diff --git a/src/db/functions/levelFunctions.ts b/src/db/functions/levelFunctions.ts
index 36f831e..1858d1d 100644
--- a/src/db/functions/levelFunctions.ts
+++ b/src/db/functions/levelFunctions.ts
@@ -86,10 +86,8 @@ export async function addXpToUser(
     const cacheKey = `level-${discordId}`;
     const userData = await getUserLevel(discordId);
     const currentLevel = userData.level;
-    const currentXp = userData.xp;
-    const xpToAdd = amount;
 
-    userData.xp = currentXp + xpToAdd;
+    userData.xp = Number(userData.xp ?? 0) + Number(amount);
 
     userData.lastMessageTimestamp = new Date();
     userData.level = calculateLevelFromXp(userData.xp);
diff --git a/src/util/levelingSystem.ts b/src/util/levelingSystem.ts
index 80f4996..b311fe6 100644
--- a/src/util/levelingSystem.ts
+++ b/src/util/levelingSystem.ts
@@ -20,11 +20,19 @@ let minXpOffered = config.leveling.minXpAwarded ?? 5;
 let maxXpOffered = config.leveling.maxXpAwarded ?? 15;
 
 if (typeof minXpOffered === 'string') {
-  minXpOffered = parseInt(minXpOffered, 10);
+  minXpOffered = Number(minXpOffered);
 }
+if (isNaN(minXpOffered) || minXpOffered < 0) {
+  throw new Error('Minimum XP awarded must be a non-negative number.');
+}
+
 if (typeof maxXpOffered === 'string') {
-  maxXpOffered = parseInt(maxXpOffered, 10);
+  maxXpOffered = Number(maxXpOffered);
 }
+if (isNaN(maxXpOffered) || maxXpOffered < 0) {
+  throw new Error('Maximum XP awarded must be a non-negative number.');
+}
+
 if (minXpOffered > maxXpOffered) {
   throw new Error(
     'Minimum XP awarded must be less than or equal to maximum XP awarded.',
@@ -36,11 +44,12 @@ const MAX_XP = maxXpOffered;
 
 let xpCooldownValue = config.leveling.xpCooldown ?? 60;
 if (typeof xpCooldownValue === 'string') {
-  xpCooldownValue = parseInt(xpCooldownValue, 10);
+  xpCooldownValue = Number(xpCooldownValue);
 }
-if (isNaN(xpCooldownValue)) {
-  throw new Error('XP cooldown must be a number.');
+if (isNaN(xpCooldownValue) || xpCooldownValue < 0) {
+  throw new Error('XP cooldown must be a non-negative number.');
 }
+
 const XP_COOLDOWN = xpCooldownValue * 1000;
 
 const __dirname = path.resolve();