diff --git a/sshmuxer/aliashandler.go b/sshmuxer/aliashandler.go
index de1407d..2dbd0f7 100644
--- a/sshmuxer/aliashandler.go
+++ b/sshmuxer/aliashandler.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 func handleAliasListener(check *channelForwardMsg, stringPort string, requestMessages string, listenerHolder *utils.ListenerHolder, state *utils.State, sshConn *utils.SSHConnection) (*utils.AliasHolder, *url.URL, string, string, error) {
 	validAlias, aH := utils.GetOpenAlias(check.Addr, stringPort, state, sshConn)
 
-	if !strings.HasPrefix(validAlias, check.Addr) && viper.GetBool("force-requested-aliases") {
+	if !strings.HasPrefix(validAlias, check.Addr) && viper.GetBool("force-requested-aliases") || validAlias == "" {
 		return nil, nil, "", "", fmt.Errorf("error assigning requested alias to tunnel")
 	}
 
diff --git a/sshmuxer/requests.go b/sshmuxer/requests.go
index 7467920..6431e86 100644
--- a/sshmuxer/requests.go
+++ b/sshmuxer/requests.go
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ func handleRemoteForward(newRequest *ssh.Request, sshConn *utils.SSHConnection,
 		log.Println("Error unmarshaling remote forward payload:", err)
 	}
 
+	check.Addr = strings.ToLower(check.Addr)
+
 	bindPort := check.Rport
 	stringPort := strconv.FormatUint(uint64(bindPort), 10)
 
diff --git a/utils/utils.go b/utils/utils.go
index 7affe2f..bc97f12 100644
--- a/utils/utils.go
+++ b/utils/utils.go
@@ -928,7 +928,7 @@ func GetOpenAlias(addr string, port string, state *State, sshConn *SSHConnection
 				if viper.GetBool("force-requested-aliases") {
 					extra = ""
 
-					bindErr = fmt.Errorf("unable to bind requested port")
+					bindErr = fmt.Errorf("unable to bind requested alias")
 				}
 
 				sshConn.SendMessage(aurora.Sprintf("The alias %s is unavailable.%s", aurora.Red(alias), extra), true)
@@ -960,6 +960,10 @@ func GetOpenAlias(addr string, port string, state *State, sshConn *SSHConnection
 		for checkAlias(alias) {
 		}
 
+		if bindErr != nil {
+			return "", nil
+		}
+
 		return alias, aH
 	}