diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 1d8c72b..8175b3b 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ minetest.register_chatcommand("creative_area_privs", {
 		if not player then
 			return false, "Player not found"
 		end
-		local found, _, area_id, privstring = param:find("^([+-]?%d+)%s*,%s*(.+)$")
+		local found, _, area_id, privstring = param:find("^([+-]?%a?%d+)%s*,%s*(.+)$")
 		if not found then
 			return false, "Syntax error"
 		end
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ function switch_creative:decode_privs_string(str)
 end
 
 function switch_creative:is_areas_mod(area_id)
-	local is_areas_id = string.sub(id, 1, 2) == "a_"
-	local a_id = tonumber( string.sub(id, 3) )
+	local is_areas_id = string.sub(id, 1, 2) == "a"
+	local a_id = tonumber( string.sub(id, 2) )
 	return is_areas_id, a_id
 end