diff --git a/cmd/char-migrate/main.go b/cmd/char-migrate/main.go
index dfc9dc4..d1b09bf 100644
--- a/cmd/char-migrate/main.go
+++ b/cmd/char-migrate/main.go
@@ -40,16 +40,31 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(2)
 	}
 
-	if err := db.Init(*dataDir); err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("db init: %v", err)
+	// Parse every spec before touching the DB, so a malformed spec in the
+	// middle of the batch fails fast instead of leaving the earlier specs
+	// already committed to gogobee.db.
+	type charSpec struct {
+		uid   id.UserID
+		race  plugin.DnDRace
+		class plugin.DnDClass
+		level int
 	}
-
+	specs := make([]charSpec, 0, flag.NArg())
 	for _, spec := range flag.Args() {
 		uid, race, class, level, err := parseSpec(spec)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Fatalf("bad spec %q: %v", spec, err)
 		}
-		c, err := plugin.AdminBuildConfirmedCharacter(uid, race, class, level)
+		specs = append(specs, charSpec{uid, race, class, level})
+	}
+
+	if err := db.Init(*dataDir); err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("db init: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	for _, s := range specs {
+		uid := s.uid
+		c, err := plugin.AdminBuildConfirmedCharacter(s.uid, s.race, s.class, s.level)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Fatalf("build %s: %v", uid, err)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/plugin/admin_char_migrate.go b/internal/plugin/admin_char_migrate.go
index 6d7de0f..24f5aee 100644
--- a/internal/plugin/admin_char_migrate.go
+++ b/internal/plugin/admin_char_migrate.go
@@ -31,9 +31,25 @@ import (
 // SaveDnDCharacter upserts on user_id, so an existing pending draft is replaced.
 // initResources / ensureSpellsForCharacter are idempotent.
 func AdminBuildConfirmedCharacter(userID id.UserID, race DnDRace, class DnDClass, level int) (*DnDCharacter, error) {
+	// Validate (and normalize) race/class through the same parsers !setup uses,
+	// so a typo or a non-playable class fails loudly instead of silently minting
+	// a broken sheet — an unknown class falls through classInfo to 1 HP / AC 10
+	// / no spells, which looks "built" but isn't.
+	r, ok := parseRace(string(race))
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown race %q", race)
+	}
+	cl, ok := parseClass(string(class))
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown or non-playable class %q", class)
+	}
+	race, class = r, cl
 	if level < 1 {
 		level = 1
 	}
+	if level > dndMaxLevel {
+		level = dndMaxLevel
+	}
 	scores := applyRaceMods(race, classStatPriority(class))
 	c := &DnDCharacter{
 		UserID:       userID,