diff --git a/server/client.ts b/server/client.ts
index d5ffe84e..35483513 100644
--- a/server/client.ts
+++ b/server/client.ts
@@ -479,38 +479,9 @@ class Client {
 		const cmd = args?.shift()?.toLowerCase() || "";
 
 		const irc = target.network.irc;
-		let connected = irc && irc.connection && irc.connection.connected;
+		const connected = irc?.connected;
 
-		if (inputs.userInputs.has(cmd)) {
-			const plugin = inputs.userInputs.get(cmd);
-
-			if (!plugin) {
-				// should be a no-op
-				throw new Error(`Plugin ${cmd} not found`);
-			}
-
-			if (typeof plugin.input === "function" && (connected || plugin.allowDisconnected)) {
-				connected = true;
-				plugin.input.apply(client, [target.network, target.chan, cmd, args]);
-			}
-		} else if (inputs.pluginCommands.has(cmd)) {
-			const plugin = inputs.pluginCommands.get(cmd);
-
-			if (typeof plugin.input === "function" && (connected || plugin.allowDisconnected)) {
-				connected = true;
-				plugin.input(
-					new PublicClient(client, plugin.packageInfo),
-					{network: target.network, chan: target.chan},
-					cmd,
-					args
-				);
-			}
-		} else if (connected) {
-			// TODO: fix
-			irc!.raw(text);
-		}
-
-		if (!connected) {
+		const emitFailureDisconnected = () => {
 			target.chan.pushMessage(
 				this,
 				new Msg({
@@ -518,7 +489,44 @@ class Client {
 					text: "You are not connected to the IRC network, unable to send your command.",
 				})
 			);
+		};
+
+		const plugin = inputs.userInputs.get(cmd);
+
+		if (plugin) {
+			if (!connected && !plugin.allowDisconnected) {
+				emitFailureDisconnected();
+				return;
+			}
+
+			plugin.input.apply(client, [target.network, target.chan, cmd, args]);
+			return;
 		}
+
+		const extPlugin = inputs.pluginCommands.get(cmd);
+
+		if (extPlugin) {
+			if (!connected && !extPlugin.allowDisconnected) {
+				emitFailureDisconnected();
+				return;
+			}
+
+			extPlugin.input(
+				new PublicClient(client, extPlugin.packageInfo),
+				{network: target.network, chan: target.chan},
+				cmd,
+				args
+			);
+			return;
+		}
+
+		if (!connected) {
+			emitFailureDisconnected();
+			return;
+		}
+
+		// TODO: fix
+		irc!.raw(text);
 	}
 
 	compileCustomHighlights() {
diff --git a/server/plugins/inputs/index.ts b/server/plugins/inputs/index.ts
index e3390361..95141b5f 100644
--- a/server/plugins/inputs/index.ts
+++ b/server/plugins/inputs/index.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import log from "../../log";
 import Chan, {Channel} from "../../models/chan";
 import Network, {NetworkWithIrcFramework} from "../../models/network";
 import {PackageInfo} from "../packages";
+import PublicClient from "../packages/publicClient";
 
 export type PluginInputHandler = (
 	this: Client,
@@ -15,7 +16,18 @@ export type PluginInputHandler = (
 type Plugin = {
 	commands: string[];
 	input: (network: Network, chan: Chan, cmd: string, args: string[]) => void;
-	allowDisconnected?: boolean | undefined;
+	allowDisconnected?: boolean;
+};
+
+type ExternalPluginCommand = {
+	packageInfo: PackageInfo;
+	input: (
+		pub: PublicClient,
+		netChan: {network: Network; chan: Chan},
+		cmd: string,
+		args: string[]
+	) => void;
+	allowDisconnected?: boolean;
 };
 
 const clientSideCommands = ["/collapse", "/expand", "/search"];
@@ -79,7 +91,7 @@ for (const input of builtInInputs) {
 		});
 }
 
-const pluginCommands = new Map();
+const pluginCommands = new Map<string, ExternalPluginCommand>();
 
 const getCommands = () =>
 	Array.from(userInputs.keys())
@@ -89,9 +101,22 @@ const getCommands = () =>
 		.concat(passThroughCommands)
 		.sort();
 
-const addPluginCommand = (packageInfo: PackageInfo, command, func) => {
-	func.packageInfo = packageInfo;
-	pluginCommands.set(command, func);
+const addPluginCommand = (packageInfo: PackageInfo, command: any, obj: any) => {
+	if (typeof command !== "string") {
+		log.error(`plugin {packageInfo.packageName} tried to register a bad command`);
+		return;
+	} else if (!obj || typeof obj.input !== "function") {
+		log.error(
+			`plugin ${packageInfo.packageName} tried to register command "${command} without a callback"`
+		);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	pluginCommands.set(command, {
+		packageInfo: packageInfo,
+		input: obj.input,
+		allowDisconnected: obj.allowDisconnected,
+	});
 };
 
 export default {