diff --git a/src/endpoints/nightbot/advanced.ts b/src/endpoints/nightbot/advanced.ts
index 9319ae2..464ea9c 100644
--- a/src/endpoints/nightbot/advanced.ts
+++ b/src/endpoints/nightbot/advanced.ts
@@ -51,10 +51,18 @@ const subcommands: {[index: string]: any} = {
 		allowIgnored: false,
 		argc: 1,
 		async handler(request: Request, meta: subcommandMetadata, args: string[]) {
-			// args: !cmd new <counter:string>
+			// args: !cmd new <counter:string> [message:string...]
 			let { channel } = meta;
 			let counter = args[1].toLowerCase();
-			await database.addCounter(channel, counter);
+			let message = args.length > 2 ? args.slice(2).join(` `) : undefined;
+
+			if (!message?.includes(`$(count)`)) {
+				return {
+					message: `Can't create a counter when the message doesn't have $(count) in it somewhere`,
+				};
+			};
+
+			await database.addCounter(channel, counter, message);
 			return {
 				message: `Counter ${counter} created successfully.`,
 				value: 0
diff --git a/src/utils/database/json.ts b/src/utils/database/json.ts
index 53a8375..a0228fd 100644
--- a/src/utils/database/json.ts
+++ b/src/utils/database/json.ts
@@ -55,13 +55,13 @@ export class JSONDatabase extends DatabaseHandler {
 		};
 	};
 
-	public async addCounter(channel: string, counter: string) {
+	public async addCounter(channel: string, counter: string, message?: string) {
 		if (await this.counterExists(channel, counter)) {
 			throw new Error(`Counter already exists`);
 		};
 		this.data[channel].counters[counter] = {
 			value: 0,
-			message: `$(value)`,
+			message: message ?? `$(value)`,
 		};
 	};