diff --git a/generate.py b/generate.py
index bfd6cca..cf2aa1b 100644
--- a/generate.py
+++ b/generate.py
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ def print_in_os(argument):
 if VERSION in versions or namespace in namespaces:
     OUTPUT = UUIDTYP()
 else:
-    if not namespace in namespaces:
-       raise ValueError(f"ERROR: namespace cannot be {namespace}; must be either DNS, URL, OID, or X500.")
+    if not namespace in namespaces and namespace > "":
+       raise ValueError(f"ERROR: namespace cannot be '{namespace}'; must be either DNS, URL, OID, or X500.")
     else:
-        if not VERSION in versions:
+        if not VERSION in versions and VERSION > "":
             raise ValueError(f"ERROR: VERSION {VERSION} does not exist")
 
 OUTPUTSTR = str(OUTPUT)