diff --git a/adb/device.go b/adb/device.go
index 8b527fd..6c09a28 100644
--- a/adb/device.go
+++ b/adb/device.go
@@ -336,3 +336,13 @@ func (d *Device) CurrentUserId() (int, error) {
 	}
 	return -1, fmt.Errorf("could not get current user id")
 }
+
+func AllUserIds(installed map[string]Package) map[int]struct{} {
+	uidMap := make(map[int]struct{})
+	for _, pkg := range installed {
+		for _, uid := range pkg.InstalledForUsers {
+			uidMap[uid] = struct{}{}
+		}
+	}
+	return uidMap
+}
diff --git a/install.go b/install.go
index e58f7b8..aca256e 100644
--- a/install.go
+++ b/install.go
@@ -50,6 +50,14 @@ func runInstall(args []string) error {
 	if *installUpdatesExclude != "" && !*installUpdates {
 		return fmt.Errorf("-e can only be used for upgrading (i.e. -u)")
 	}
+	device, err := oneDevice()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	inst, err := device.Installed()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if *installUser != "" && *installUser != "all" && *installUser != "current" {
 		n, err := strconv.Atoi(*installUser)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -58,10 +66,10 @@ func runInstall(args []string) error {
 		if n < 0 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("-user cannot have a negative number as USER_ID")
 		}
-	}
-	device, err := oneDevice()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		allUids := adb.AllUserIds(inst)
+		if _, exists := allUids[n]; !exists {
+			return fmt.Errorf("user %d does not exist", n)
+		}
 	}
 	if *installUser == "current" || (*installUser == "" && !*installUpdates) {
 		uid, err := device.CurrentUserId()
@@ -70,10 +78,6 @@ func runInstall(args []string) error {
 		}
 		*installUser = strconv.Itoa(uid)
 	}
-	inst, err := device.Installed()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 
 	if *installUpdates {
 		apps, err := loadIndexes()
diff --git a/search.go b/search.go
index 4fe40d3..befe88a 100644
--- a/search.go
+++ b/search.go
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ func runSearch(args []string) error {
 		if n < 0 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("-user cannot have a negative number as USER_ID")
 		}
+		allUids := adb.AllUserIds(inst)
+		if _, exists := allUids[n]; !exists {
+			return fmt.Errorf("user %d does not exist", n)
+		}
 		filterUser = &n
 	} else {
 		if *installUser == "current" {
diff --git a/uninstall.go b/uninstall.go
index 8cd7e40..3f1a605 100644
--- a/uninstall.go
+++ b/uninstall.go
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strconv"
+
+	"mvdan.cc/fdroidcl/adb"
 )
 
 var cmdUninstall = &Command{
@@ -26,6 +28,14 @@ func runUninstall(args []string) error {
 	if len(args) < 1 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("no package names given")
 	}
+	device, err := oneDevice()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	inst, err := device.Installed()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	if *uninstallUser != "all" && *uninstallUser != "current" {
 		n, err := strconv.Atoi(*uninstallUser)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -34,10 +44,10 @@ func runUninstall(args []string) error {
 		if n < 0 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("-user cannot have a negative number as USER_ID")
 		}
-	}
-	device, err := oneDevice()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		allUids := adb.AllUserIds(inst)
+		if _, exists := allUids[n]; !exists {
+			return fmt.Errorf("user %d does not exist", n)
+		}
 	}
 	if *uninstallUser == "current" {
 		uid, err := device.CurrentUserId()
@@ -46,10 +56,6 @@ func runUninstall(args []string) error {
 		}
 		*uninstallUser = strconv.Itoa(uid)
 	}
-	inst, err := device.Installed()
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	for _, id := range args {
 		var err error
 		fmt.Printf("Uninstalling %s\n", id)