diff --git a/src/app/rate_user.rs b/src/app/rate_user.rs
index b0697e75..bf207306 100644
--- a/src/app/rate_user.rs
+++ b/src/app/rate_user.rs
@@ -121,6 +121,12 @@ pub async fn update_user_reputation_action(
     let rating;
 
     if let Some(Payload::RatingUser(v)) = msg.get_inner_message_kind().payload.to_owned() {
+        if !(MIN_RATING..=MAX_RATING).contains(&v) {
+            return Err(Error::msg(format!(
+                "Rating must be between {} and {}",
+                MIN_RATING, MAX_RATING
+            )));
+        }
         rating = v;
     } else {
         return Err(Error::msg("No rating present"));
diff --git a/src/util.rs b/src/util.rs
index a64d0048..6645c077 100644
--- a/src/util.rs
+++ b/src/util.rs
@@ -268,7 +268,9 @@ pub async fn send_dm(
     );
 
     if let Ok(client) = get_nostr_client() {
-        let _ = client.send_event(event).await;
+        if let Err(e) = client.send_event(event).await {
+            error!("Failed to send event: {}", e);
+        }
     }
 
     Ok(())