diff --git a/common/models/promo.js b/common/models/promo.js
index 4dedb9a940..ec4970d461 100644
--- a/common/models/promo.js
+++ b/common/models/promo.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { isAlphanumeric, isHexadecimal } from 'validator';
+import { isAlphanumeric, isMongoId } from 'validator';
 import debug from 'debug';
 
 const log = debug('fcc:models:promo');
@@ -6,16 +6,16 @@ const log = debug('fcc:models:promo');
 export default function promo(Promo) {
   Promo.getButton = function getButton(id, code, type = 'isNot') {
     const Job = Promo.app.models.Job;
-    if (!id || !isHexadecimal(id)) {
+    if (!id || !isMongoId('' + id)) {
       return Promise.reject(new Error(
         'Must include job id'
       ));
     }
 
     if (
-      !isAlphanumeric(code) &&
+      !isAlphanumeric('' + code) &&
       type &&
-      !isAlphanumeric(type)
+      !isAlphanumeric('' + type)
     ) {
       return Promise.reject(new Error(
         'Code or Type should be an alphanumeric'
diff --git a/server/boot/challenge.js b/server/boot/challenge.js
index d793b9fbfd..b5350d418a 100644
--- a/server/boot/challenge.js
+++ b/server/boot/challenge.js
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
       challengeId = badIdMap[challengeId];
     }
 
-    if (!isMongoId(challengeId)) {
+    if (!isMongoId('' + challengeId)) {
       challengeId = null;
     }
 
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
       challengeId = badIdMap[challengeId];
     }
 
-    if (!isMongoId(challengeId)) {
+    if (!isMongoId('' + challengeId)) {
       challengeId = null;
     }
 
diff --git a/server/boot/story.js b/server/boot/story.js
index 8857290bc0..55eb3a52c2 100755
--- a/server/boot/story.js
+++ b/server/boot/story.js
@@ -343,7 +343,7 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
     }
     var url = req.body.data.url;
 
-    if (!validator.isURL(url)) {
+    if (!validator.isURL('' + url)) {
       req.flash('errors', {
         msg: "The URL you submitted doesn't appear valid"
       });