diff --git a/src/handlers/event/block_reaction.rs b/src/handlers/event/block_reaction.rs
index dac9fcc..ff9231b 100644
--- a/src/handlers/event/block_reaction.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/event/block_reaction.rs
@@ -1,34 +1,37 @@
 use crate::{config::Config, consts::Colors, Data};
 
 use chrono::Duration;
-use eyre::Result;
+use eyre::{Context as _, Result};
 use log::{debug, trace};
 use poise::serenity_prelude::{
-	Context, CreateEmbed, CreateMessage, Mentionable, Reaction, Timestamp,
+	Context, CreateEmbed, CreateMessage, Mentionable, Message, Reaction, Timestamp, UserId,
 };
 
-async fn log_old_react(ctx: &Context, config: &Config, reaction: &Reaction) -> Result<()> {
+async fn log_old_react(
+	ctx: &Context,
+	config: &Config,
+	reactor: &Option<UserId>,
+	message: &Message,
+) -> Result<()> {
 	let Some(log_channel) = config.discord.channels.log_channel_id else {
 		debug!("Not logging old reaction; no log channel is set!");
 		return Ok(());
 	};
 
-	let message_link = reaction
-		.message_id
-		.link(reaction.channel_id, reaction.guild_id);
-
 	let mut embed = CreateEmbed::new()
 		.title("Old message reaction!")
 		.color(Colors::Red);
 
-	if let Some(reactor) = reaction.user_id {
+	if let Some(reactor) = reactor {
 		embed = embed.description(format!(
-			"{} just reacted to {message_link}!",
+			"{} just reacted to {}!",
 			reactor.mention(),
+			message.link()
 		));
 	} else {
 		embed = embed.description(format!(
-			"Someone (or something...) just reacted to {message_link}!"
+			"Someone (or something...) just reacted to {}!",
+			message.link()
 		));
 	}
 
@@ -40,25 +43,33 @@ async fn log_old_react(ctx: &Context, config: &Config, reaction: &Reaction) -> R
 
 pub async fn handle(ctx: &Context, reaction: &Reaction, data: &Data) -> Result<()> {
 	let reaction_type = reaction.emoji.clone();
-	let message_id = reaction.message_id;
-	trace!("Checking if we should block reaction on {message_id}");
+	let reactor = reaction.user_id;
+	let message = reaction.message(ctx).await.wrap_err_with(|| {
+		format!(
+			"Couldn't get message {} from reaction! We won't be able to check if it's old",
+			reaction.message_id
+		)
+	})?;
 
-	let time_sent = message_id.created_at().to_utc();
+	let time_sent = message.timestamp.to_utc();
 	let age = Timestamp::now().signed_duration_since(time_sent);
 	let max_days = Duration::days(data.config.discord.days_to_delete_reaction);
 
 	if age >= max_days {
+		// NOTE: if we for some reason **didn't** get the user_id associated with the reaction,
+		// this will clear **all** reactions of this type. this is intentional as older reactions
+		// being removed > harmful reactions being kept
 		debug!(
 			"Removing reaction {reaction_type} from message {}",
-			message_id
+			message.id
 		);
+		message.delete_reaction(ctx, reactor, reaction_type).await?;
 
-		reaction.delete(ctx).await?;
-		log_old_react(ctx, &data.config, reaction).await?;
+		log_old_react(ctx, &data.config, &reactor, &message).await?;
 	} else {
 		trace!(
 			"Keeping reaction {reaction_type} for message {}",
-			message_id
+			message.id
 		);
 	}