diff --git a/src/db/functions/levelFunctions.ts b/src/db/functions/levelFunctions.ts
index 3bfd42a..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 = Number(userData.xp);
-    const xpToAdd = Number(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 e6bf4b9..97744dd 100644
--- a/src/util/levelingSystem.ts
+++ b/src/util/levelingSystem.ts
@@ -16,9 +16,41 @@ import { processMessageAchievements } from './achievementManager.js';
 
 const config = loadConfig();
 
-const XP_COOLDOWN = config.leveling.xpCooldown * 1000;
-const MIN_XP = config.leveling.minXpAwarded;
-const MAX_XP = config.leveling.maxXpAwarded;
+let minXpOffered = config.leveling.minXpAwarded ?? 5;
+let maxXpOffered = config.leveling.maxXpAwarded ?? 15;
+
+if (typeof minXpOffered === 'string') {
+  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 = 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.',
+  );
+}
+
+const MIN_XP = minXpOffered;
+const MAX_XP = maxXpOffered;
+
+let xpCooldownValue = config.leveling.xpCooldown ?? 60;
+if (typeof xpCooldownValue === 'string') {
+  xpCooldownValue = Number(xpCooldownValue);
+}
+if (!Number.isFinite(xpCooldownValue) || xpCooldownValue < 0) {
+  throw new Error('XP cooldown must be a non-negative number.');
+}
+
+const XP_COOLDOWN = xpCooldownValue * 1000;
 
 const __dirname = path.resolve();