diff --git a/.version b/.version
index ee90284..90a27f9 100644
--- a/.version
+++ b/.version
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.0.4
+1.0.5
diff --git a/src/commands/create-command.ts b/src/commands/create-command.ts
index 83d4bbc..9732a26 100644
--- a/src/commands/create-command.ts
+++ b/src/commands/create-command.ts
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ export async function handleCreateCommand(
 			return;
 		}
 
-		await interaction.deferReply();
-
 		const casual = !!interaction.options.getBoolean('casual', false);
 		const info = interaction.options.getString('info', false) ?? undefined;
 		const timeInMinutes =
@@ -56,11 +54,10 @@ export async function handleCreateCommand(
 
 		const rolePing = getPingsForServer(interaction, casual);
 
-		const reply = await interaction.editReply({
+		const reply = await interaction.reply({
 			content: rolePing || undefined,
 			embeds: [embed],
 			components: [buttonRow, selectRow],
-			allowedMentions: { parse: ['roles', 'users', 'everyone'] },
 		});
 		const message = await reply.fetch();
 		const matchId = randomUUID();
diff --git a/src/commands/reping-command.ts b/src/commands/reping-command.ts
index 6689aec..b6ca6d1 100644
--- a/src/commands/reping-command.ts
+++ b/src/commands/reping-command.ts
@@ -117,8 +117,6 @@ export async function handleRepingCommand(
 			return;
 		}
 
-		await interaction.deferReply();
-
 		await eventManager.deleteRepingMessageIfExists(
 			userEventId,
 			interaction.client,
@@ -127,9 +125,8 @@ export async function handleRepingCommand(
 		const guildId = interaction.guildId;
 		const messageUrl = `https://discord.com/channels/${guildId}/${channelId}/${userEventId}`;
 
-		const reply = await interaction.editReply({
+		const reply = await interaction.reply({
 			content: REPING_MESSAGE(rolePing, missingPlayers, messageUrl),
-			allowedMentions: { parse: ['roles', 'users', 'everyone'] },
 		});
 
 		const repingMessage = await withRetry(
diff --git a/src/tests/commands/create-command.test.ts b/src/tests/commands/create-command.test.ts
index cec48fd..f4506e6 100644
--- a/src/tests/commands/create-command.test.ts
+++ b/src/tests/commands/create-command.test.ts
@@ -46,8 +46,18 @@ describe('create-command', () => {
 				getString: vi.fn(() => null),
 				getInteger: vi.fn(() => null),
 			},
-			reply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
-			deferReply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+			reply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+				fetch: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+					id: 'message123',
+					channelId: 'channel123',
+				}),
+			}),
+			deferReply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+				fetch: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
+					id: 'message123',
+					channelId: 'channel123',
+				}),
+			}),
 			editReply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
 				fetch: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
 					id: 'message123',
@@ -102,7 +112,10 @@ describe('create-command', () => {
 				content: ERROR_MESSAGES.ALREADY_SIGNED_UP,
 				flags: ['Ephemeral'],
 			});
-			expect(mockInteraction.deferReply).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(mockInteraction.reply).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
+				content: ERROR_MESSAGES.ALREADY_SIGNED_UP,
+				flags: ['Ephemeral'],
+			});
 		});
 	});
 
@@ -116,8 +129,7 @@ describe('create-command', () => {
 				mockTelemetry as never,
 			);
 
-			expect(mockInteraction.deferReply).toHaveBeenCalled();
-			expect(mockInteraction.editReply).toHaveBeenCalled();
+			expect(mockInteraction.reply).toHaveBeenCalled();
 			expect(mockEventManager.setCreator).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
 				'message123',
 				'user123',
@@ -264,7 +276,7 @@ describe('create-command', () => {
 
 	describe('error handling', () => {
 		it('should handle errors and call safeReplyToInteraction', async () => {
-			mockInteraction.deferReply.mockRejectedValue(new Error('Network error'));
+			mockInteraction.reply.mockRejectedValue(new Error('Network error'));
 			const { safeReplyToInteraction } = await import('../../utils/helpers.js');
 
 			await handleCreateCommand(
diff --git a/src/tests/commands/reping-command.test.ts b/src/tests/commands/reping-command.test.ts
index dec31c8..53e1b93 100644
--- a/src/tests/commands/reping-command.test.ts
+++ b/src/tests/commands/reping-command.test.ts
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ describe('reping-command', () => {
 					fetch: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(mockChannel),
 				},
 			},
-			reply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
-			deferReply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(undefined),
+			reply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(mockReply),
+			deferreply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(mockReply),
 			editReply: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(mockReply),
 		};
 	}