diff --git a/jarvis/cogs/reddit.py b/jarvis/cogs/reddit.py
index b69b4c1..9ecdf87 100644
--- a/jarvis/cogs/reddit.py
+++ b/jarvis/cogs/reddit.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """JARVIS Reddit cog."""
 import asyncio
 import logging
+import re
 from typing import List, Optional
 
 from asyncpraw import Reddit
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ from jarvis.utils import build_embed
 from jarvis.utils.permissions import admin_or_permissions
 
 DEFAULT_USER_AGENT = f"python:JARVIS:{const.__version__} (by u/zevaryx)"
+sub_name = re.compile(r"\A[A-Za-z0-9][A-Za-z0-9_]{2,20}\Z")
 
 
 class RedditCog(Extension):
@@ -135,8 +137,7 @@ class RedditCog(Extension):
     )
     @check(admin_or_permissions(Permissions.MANAGE_GUILD))
     async def _reddit_follow(self, ctx: InteractionContext, name: str, channel: GuildText) -> None:
-        name = name.replace("r/", "")
-        if len(name) > 20 or len(name) < 3:
+        if not sub_name.match(name):
             await ctx.send("Invalid Subreddit name", ephemeral=True)
             return
 
@@ -248,12 +249,11 @@ class RedditCog(Extension):
         name="name", description="Subreddit name", opt_type=OptionTypes.STRING, required=True
     )
     async def _subreddit_hot(self, ctx: InteractionContext, name: str) -> None:
-        await ctx.defer()
-        name = name.replace("r/", "")
-        if len(name) > 20 or len(name) < 3:
+        if not sub_name.match(name):
             await ctx.send("Invalid Subreddit name", ephemeral=True)
             return
         try:
+            await ctx.defer()
             subreddit = await self.api.subreddit(name)
             await subreddit.load()
         except (NotFound, Forbidden, Redirect) as e:
@@ -300,12 +300,11 @@ class RedditCog(Extension):
         ],
     )
     async def _subreddit_top(self, ctx: InteractionContext, name: str, time: str = "all") -> None:
-        await ctx.defer()
-        name = name.replace("r/", "")
-        if len(name) > 20 or len(name) < 3:
+        if not sub_name.match(name):
             await ctx.send("Invalid Subreddit name", ephemeral=True)
             return
         try:
+            await ctx.defer()
             subreddit = await self.api.subreddit(name)
             await subreddit.load()
         except (NotFound, Forbidden, Redirect) as e:
@@ -340,12 +339,11 @@ class RedditCog(Extension):
         name="name", description="Subreddit name", opt_type=OptionTypes.STRING, required=True
     )
     async def _subreddit_random(self, ctx: InteractionContext, name: str) -> None:
-        await ctx.defer()
-        name = name.replace("r/", "")
-        if len(name) > 20 or len(name) < 3:
+        if not sub_name.match(name):
             await ctx.send("Invalid Subreddit name", ephemeral=True)
             return
         try:
+            await ctx.defer()
             subreddit = await self.api.subreddit(name)
             await subreddit.load()
         except (NotFound, Forbidden, Redirect) as e:
@@ -380,12 +378,11 @@ class RedditCog(Extension):
         name="name", description="Subreddit name", opt_type=OptionTypes.STRING, required=True
     )
     async def _subreddit_rising(self, ctx: InteractionContext, name: str) -> None:
-        await ctx.defer()
-        name = name.replace("r/", "")
-        if len(name) > 20 or len(name) < 3:
+        if not sub_name.match(name):
             await ctx.send("Invalid Subreddit name", ephemeral=True)
             return
         try:
+            await ctx.defer()
             subreddit = await self.api.subreddit(name)
             await subreddit.load()
         except (NotFound, Forbidden, Redirect) as e: