diff --git a/io.rkt b/io.rkt
index b3c0509..63afefb 100644
--- a/io.rkt
+++ b/io.rkt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #lang racket/base
 
-(require "config.rkt")
+(require racket/file
+         "config.rkt")
 
 (provide (all-defined-out))
 
diff --git a/messages.rkt b/messages.rkt
index 2198be7..cb38df9 100644
--- a/messages.rkt
+++ b/messages.rkt
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
       "\x09rodo add \"go to the bank\"\n"
       "\x09Example: "
       "rodo add bread\n\n"
-      
+
       "* " remove-command ": "
       "removes an item from the list\n"
       "\x09Note: You may have to run `rodo ls` to see which\n"
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@
       "\x09Example: "
       "rodo rm 1\n")
 
+    'empty-todo-list
+    "Error> There is nothing in your list yet\n"
+
     'show-usage
     (string-append
       "> For usage type "
@@ -119,6 +122,9 @@
     'choose-y/n
     "> Error: Please choose y or n\n"
 
+    'not-in-list
+    "> Error: Item does not exist\n"
+
     'item-added-prefix
     "> Added "
 
diff --git a/util.rkt b/util.rkt
index ec031f9..7dcf0d3 100644
--- a/util.rkt
+++ b/util.rkt
@@ -100,12 +100,23 @@
         #:exists 'replace))))
 
 (define (remove-item args)
-  (if
-    (and
-      (number? (string->number (vector-ref args 1)))
-      (check-for-folder)
-      (check-for-file))
-    (remove-item-from-file (vector-ref args 1))
-    (begin
-      (d-hash-ref messages 'file-not-found)
-      (d-hash-ref messages 'try-init))))
+  (let ([todo-list
+          (file->lines
+            path
+            #:mode 'text
+            #:line-mode 'linefeed)])
+    (cond
+      [(< (length todo-list) 1)
+       (d-hash-ref messages 'empty-todo-list)]
+      [(and
+         (number? (string->number (vector-ref args 1)))
+         (< (string->number (vector-ref args 1)) (vector-length args))
+         (check-for-folder)
+         (check-for-file))
+       (remove-item-from-file (vector-ref args 1))]
+      [(and (not (check-for-folder)) (not (check-for-file)))
+       (begin
+         (d-hash-ref messages 'file-not-found)
+         (d-hash-ref messages 'try-init))]
+      [(>= (string->number (vector-ref args 1)) (vector-length args))
+       (d-hash-ref messages 'not-in-list)])))