diff --git a/cogs/make_applicant.py b/cogs/make_applicant.py
index 619d7756..27e4e168 100644
--- a/cogs/make_applicant.py
+++ b/cogs/make_applicant.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class BaseMakeApplicantCog(TeXBotBaseCog):
     """
 
     async def _perform_make_applicant(
-        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", applicant_member: discord.Member
+        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", applicant_member_id: int
     ) -> None:
         """Perform the actual process of making the user into a group-applicant."""
         # NOTE: Shortcut accessors are placed at the top of the function so that the exceptions they raise are displayed before any further errors may be sent
@@ -42,6 +42,19 @@ async def _perform_make_applicant(
         applicant_role: discord.Role = await ctx.bot.applicant_role
         guest_role: discord.Role = await ctx.bot.guest_role
 
+        applicant_member: discord.Member | None = main_guild.get_member(applicant_member_id)
+
+        if not applicant_member:
+            await ctx.respond(
+                content=(
+                    ":information_source: "
+                    "No changes made. User cannot be made into an applicant "
+                    "because they have left the server :information_source:"
+                ),
+                ephemeral=True,
+            )
+            return
+
         if applicant_role in applicant_member.roles:
             await ctx.respond("User is already an applicant! Command aborted.")
             return
@@ -196,7 +209,7 @@ async def make_applicant(
             await self.command_send_error(ctx, message=member_id_not_integer_error.args[0])
             return
 
-        await self._perform_make_applicant(ctx, applicant_member)
+        await self._perform_make_applicant(ctx, applicant_member.id)
 
 
 class MakeApplicantContextCommandsCog(BaseMakeApplicantCog):
@@ -206,7 +219,7 @@ class MakeApplicantContextCommandsCog(BaseMakeApplicantCog):
     @CommandChecks.check_interaction_user_has_committee_role
     @CommandChecks.check_interaction_user_in_main_guild
     async def user_make_applicant(
-        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", member: discord.Member
+        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", member: discord.Member | discord.User
     ) -> None:
         """
         Definition and callback response of the "make_applicant" user-context-command.
@@ -215,7 +228,7 @@ async def user_make_applicant(
         the "make_applicant" slash-command and thus gives the specified user the
         "Applicant" role and removes the "Guest" role if they have it.
         """
-        await self._perform_make_applicant(ctx, member)
+        await self._perform_make_applicant(ctx, member.id)
 
     @discord.message_command(name="Make Message Author Applicant")
     @CommandChecks.check_interaction_user_has_committee_role
@@ -230,19 +243,4 @@ async def message_make_applicant(
         the "make_applicant" slash-command and thus gives the specified user the
         "Applicant" role and removes the "Guest" role if they have it.
         """
-        try:
-            member: discord.Member = await self.bot.get_member_from_str_id(
-                str(message.author.id)
-            )
-        except ValueError:
-            await ctx.respond(
-                content=(
-                    ":information_source: "
-                    "No changes made. User cannot be made into an applicant "
-                    "because they have left the server :information_source:"
-                ),
-                ephemeral=True,
-            )
-            return
-
-        await self._perform_make_applicant(ctx, member)
+        await self._perform_make_applicant(ctx, message.author.id)
diff --git a/cogs/strike.py b/cogs/strike.py
index 70bfcbe8..4cf0e08b 100644
--- a/cogs/strike.py
+++ b/cogs/strike.py
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ async def _confirm_increase_strike(
         )
 
     async def _command_perform_strike(
-        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", strike_member: discord.Member
+        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", strike_member: discord.Member | discord.User
     ) -> None:
         """
         Perform the actual process of giving a member an additional strike.
@@ -1075,7 +1075,7 @@ async def _send_message_to_committee(
     @CommandChecks.check_interaction_user_has_committee_role
     @CommandChecks.check_interaction_user_in_main_guild
     async def user_strike(
-        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", member: discord.Member
+        self, ctx: "TeXBotApplicationContext", member: discord.Member | discord.User
     ) -> None:
         """Call the _strike command, providing the required command arguments."""
         await self._command_perform_strike(ctx, strike_member=member)