diff --git a/cmd/cli/main.go b/cmd/cli/main.go
index 64c274f..0af5776 100644
--- a/cmd/cli/main.go
+++ b/cmd/cli/main.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ func main() {
 	wordLength := flag.Int("l", defaultWordLength, "word length")
 	dictionary := flag.String("f", "", "dictionary file")
 	maxAttempts := flag.Int("m", defaultMaxAttempts, "maximum number of attempts")
+	cheat := flag.Bool("c", false, "cheat mode (prints word at the beginning)")
 
 	flag.Parse()
 
@@ -42,22 +43,34 @@ func main() {
 
 	fmt.Printf("length %d ; you have %d attempts\n", *wordLength, *maxAttempts)
 
+	if *cheat {
+		fmt.Printf("word: %s\n", word)
+	}
+
 	scanner := bufio.NewScanner(os.Stdin)
 	game := gordle.New(*maxAttempts, word)
 
+	play(game, scanner, word, wordLength)
+}
+
+func play(game *gordle.Game, scanner *bufio.Scanner, word string, wordLength *int) {
 	for !game.Over() && scanner.Scan() {
 		var feedback gordle.FullFeedback
 
 		text := strings.ToUpper(scanner.Text())
-		feedback, err = game.TryWord(text)
-
-		fmt.Println(feedback)
+		feedback, err := game.TryWord(text)
 
 		switch {
 		case errors.Is(err, gordle.ErrGameWon):
+			fmt.Println(feedback)
 			fmt.Println("🎉 you won")
 		case errors.Is(err, gordle.ErrGameLost):
+			fmt.Println(feedback)
 			fmt.Printf("😔 you lost, the correct word was %s\n", word)
+		case errors.Is(err, gordle.ErrRunesCount):
+			fmt.Printf("🤔 please provide a %d-letters word\n", *wordLength)
+		default:
+			fmt.Println(feedback)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/lib/gordle/gordle.go b/lib/gordle/gordle.go
index 25bbb87..67d2191 100644
--- a/lib/gordle/gordle.go
+++ b/lib/gordle/gordle.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ var (
 	ErrWordNotFound = errors.New("word not found with requested length")
 	ErrGameWon      = errors.New("won game")
 	ErrGameLost     = errors.New("game over")
+	ErrRunesCount   = errors.New("incorrect number of letters")
 )
 
 type (
@@ -62,7 +63,11 @@ func New(maxAttempts int, pickedWord string) *Game {
 }
 
 func (g *Game) TryWord(word string) (FullFeedback, error) {
-	feedback := CheckWord(g.pickedWord, word)
+	feedback, err := CheckWord(g.pickedWord, word)
+	if err != nil {
+		return feedback, err
+	}
+
 	if feedback.Wins() {
 		g.over = true
 		return feedback, ErrGameWon
@@ -106,9 +111,14 @@ func PickWord(reader io.Reader, wordLength int) (string, error) {
 	return candidates[rnd], nil
 }
 
-func CheckWord(word, input string) FullFeedback {
+func CheckWord(word, input string) (FullFeedback, error) {
 	wordRunes := []rune(word)
 	inputRunes := []rune(input)
+
+	if len(wordRunes) != len(inputRunes) {
+		return nil, ErrRunesCount
+	}
+
 	res := []Feedback{}
 
 	counter := map[rune]int{}
@@ -137,5 +147,5 @@ func CheckWord(word, input string) FullFeedback {
 		}
 	}
 
-	return res
+	return res, nil
 }
diff --git a/lib/gordle/gordle_test.go b/lib/gordle/gordle_test.go
index 7190565..7b605e5 100644
--- a/lib/gordle/gordle_test.go
+++ b/lib/gordle/gordle_test.go
@@ -42,18 +42,20 @@ func TestCheckWord(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	tests := []struct {
-		name  string
-		word  string
-		input string
-		want  gordle.FullFeedback
+		name    string
+		word    string
+		input   string
+		want    gordle.FullFeedback
+		wantErr error
 	}{
-		{"empty", "", "", gordle.FullFeedback{}},
-		{"missing input", "i", "", gordle.FullFeedback{gordle.FeedbackNotInWord}},
-		{"correct single", "i", "i", gordle.FullFeedback{gordle.FeedbackCorrect}},
-		{"incorrect place", "ab", "ba", gordle.FullFeedback{gordle.FeedbackWrongPlace, gordle.FeedbackWrongPlace}},
+		{"empty", "", "", gordle.FullFeedback{}, nil},
+		{"missing input", "i", "", nil, gordle.ErrRunesCount},
+		{"correct single", "i", "i", gordle.FullFeedback{gordle.FeedbackCorrect}, nil},
+		{"incorrect place", "ab", "ba", gordle.FullFeedback{gordle.FeedbackWrongPlace, gordle.FeedbackWrongPlace}, nil},
 		{
 			"some correct some incorrect", "aba", "baa",
 			gordle.FullFeedback{gordle.FeedbackWrongPlace, gordle.FeedbackWrongPlace, gordle.FeedbackCorrect},
+			nil,
 		},
 		{
 			"complex", "testing", "xsesing",
@@ -66,13 +68,17 @@ func TestCheckWord(t *testing.T) {
 				gordle.FeedbackCorrect,
 				gordle.FeedbackCorrect,
 			},
+			nil,
 		},
 	}
 	for _, test := range tests {
 		test := test
 		t.Run(test.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Parallel()
-			got := gordle.CheckWord(test.word, test.input)
+			got, err := gordle.CheckWord(test.word, test.input)
+			if !errors.Is(err, test.wantErr) {
+				t.Errorf("got err %q, want %q", err, test.wantErr)
+			}
 			if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, test.want) {
 				t.Errorf("got %q, want %q", got, test.want)
 			}