diff --git a/src/base.rs b/src/base.rs
index 05f2ce6..3a3d1e7 100644
--- a/src/base.rs
+++ b/src/base.rs
@@ -152,7 +152,11 @@ pub enum MessageAction {
     Edit,
 
     /// React to a message with an Emoji.
-    React(String),
+    ///
+    /// `:react` will by default try to convert the [String] argument to an Emoji, and error when
+    /// it doesn't recognize it. The second [bool] argument forces it to be interpreted literally
+    /// when it is `true`.
+    React(String, bool),
 
     /// Redact a message, with an optional reason.
     ///
@@ -166,7 +170,11 @@ pub enum MessageAction {
     ///
     /// If no specific Emoji to remove to is specified, then all reactions from the user on the
     /// message are removed.
-    Unreact(Option<String>),
+    ///
+    /// Like `:react`, `:unreact` will by default try to convert the [String] argument to an Emoji,
+    /// and error when it doesn't recognize it. The second [bool] argument forces it to be
+    /// interpreted literally when it is `true`.
+    Unreact(Option<String>, bool),
 }
 
 /// The type of room being created.
diff --git a/src/commands.rs b/src/commands.rs
index f8b3515..c287756 100644
--- a/src/commands.rs
+++ b/src/commands.rs
@@ -221,24 +221,17 @@ fn iamb_edit(desc: CommandDescription, ctx: &mut ProgContext) -> ProgResult {
 }
 
 fn iamb_react(desc: CommandDescription, ctx: &mut ProgContext) -> ProgResult {
-    let args = desc.arg.strings()?;
+    let mut args = desc.arg.strings()?;
 
     if args.len() != 1 {
         return Result::Err(CommandError::InvalidArgument);
     }
 
-    let k = args[0].as_str();
-
-    if let Some(emoji) = emojis::get(k).or_else(|| emojis::get_by_shortcode(k)) {
-        let mact = IambAction::from(MessageAction::React(emoji.to_string()));
-        let step = CommandStep::Continue(mact.into(), ctx.context.clone());
-
-        return Ok(step);
-    } else {
-        let msg = format!("Invalid Emoji or shortcode: {k}");
+    let react = args.remove(0);
+    let mact = IambAction::from(MessageAction::React(react, desc.bang));
+    let step = CommandStep::Continue(mact.into(), ctx.context.clone());
 
-        return Result::Err(CommandError::Error(msg));
-    }
+    return Ok(step);
 }
 
 fn iamb_unreact(desc: CommandDescription, ctx: &mut ProgContext) -> ProgResult {
@@ -248,20 +241,8 @@ fn iamb_unreact(desc: CommandDescription, ctx: &mut ProgContext) -> ProgResult {
         return Result::Err(CommandError::InvalidArgument);
     }
 
-    let mact = if let Some(k) = args.pop() {
-        let k = k.as_str();
-
-        if let Some(emoji) = emojis::get(k).or_else(|| emojis::get_by_shortcode(k)) {
-            IambAction::from(MessageAction::Unreact(Some(emoji.to_string())))
-        } else {
-            let msg = format!("Invalid Emoji or shortcode: {k}");
-
-            return Result::Err(CommandError::Error(msg));
-        }
-    } else {
-        IambAction::from(MessageAction::Unreact(None))
-    };
-
+    let reaction = args.pop();
+    let mact = IambAction::from(MessageAction::Unreact(reaction, desc.bang));
     let step = CommandStep::Continue(mact.into(), ctx.context.clone());
 
     return Ok(step);
diff --git a/src/windows/room/chat.rs b/src/windows/room/chat.rs
index 31b4f88..427a2df 100644
--- a/src/windows/room/chat.rs
+++ b/src/windows/room/chat.rs
@@ -358,7 +358,22 @@ impl ChatState {
 
                 Ok(None)
             },
-            MessageAction::React(emoji) => {
+            MessageAction::React(reaction, literal) => {
+                let emoji = if literal {
+                    reaction
+                } else if let Some(emoji) =
+                    emojis::get(&reaction).or_else(|| emojis::get_by_shortcode(&reaction))
+                {
+                    emoji.to_string()
+                } else {
+                    let msg = format!("{reaction:?} is not a known Emoji shortcode; do you want to react with exactly {reaction:?}?");
+                    let act = IambAction::Message(MessageAction::React(reaction, true));
+                    let prompt = PromptYesNo::new(msg, vec![Action::from(act)]);
+                    let prompt = Box::new(prompt);
+
+                    return Err(UIError::NeedConfirm(prompt));
+                };
+
                 let room = self.get_joined(&store.application.worker)?;
                 let event_id = match &msg.event {
                     MessageEvent::EncryptedOriginal(ev) => ev.event_id.clone(),
@@ -422,7 +437,27 @@ impl ChatState {
 
                 Ok(None)
             },
-            MessageAction::Unreact(emoji) => {
+            MessageAction::Unreact(reaction, literal) => {
+                let emoji = match reaction {
+                    reaction if literal => reaction,
+                    Some(reaction) => {
+                        if let Some(emoji) =
+                            emojis::get(&reaction).or_else(|| emojis::get_by_shortcode(&reaction))
+                        {
+                            Some(emoji.to_string())
+                        } else {
+                            let msg = format!("{reaction:?} is not a known Emoji shortcode; do you want to remove exactly {reaction:?}?");
+                            let act =
+                                IambAction::Message(MessageAction::Unreact(Some(reaction), true));
+                            let prompt = PromptYesNo::new(msg, vec![Action::from(act)]);
+                            let prompt = Box::new(prompt);
+
+                            return Err(UIError::NeedConfirm(prompt));
+                        }
+                    },
+                    None => None,
+                };
+
                 let room = self.get_joined(&store.application.worker)?;
                 let event_id = match &msg.event {
                     MessageEvent::EncryptedOriginal(ev) => ev.event_id.clone(),