diff --git a/cmd/user/add.go b/cmd/user/add.go
index 596c27f..9bcda0c 100644
--- a/cmd/user/add.go
+++ b/cmd/user/add.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package user
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 	"strconv"
@@ -8,6 +9,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
 	ldap "gopkg.in/ldap.v2"
+
+	"git.metaunix.net/metaunix.net/muldap/lib/util"
 )
 
 func init() {
@@ -32,6 +35,18 @@ var userAddCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Short: "Add an LDAP user to the directory",
 	Long:  `Create and add an LDAP user resource to your directory.`,
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		// chck if a user id was provided
+		if flagUserUsername == "" {
+			uidErr := errors.New("You must supply a user ID")
+			log.Fatal(uidErr)
+		}
+
+		// check if the provided user id is valid
+		if util.ContainsString(viper.GetStringSlice("user.uid_reserved"), flagUserUsername) {
+			uidErr := errors.New("The user ID name that you provided is in the reserved list")
+			log.Fatal(uidErr)
+		}
+
 		// create new LDAP connection
 		l, err := ldap.Dial("tcp", fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", viper.GetString("host"), viper.GetInt("port")))
 		if err != nil {