diff --git a/vns b/vns
index f3c2a49..5e0abfe 100755
--- a/vns
+++ b/vns
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ vns_list () {
     # If no notebook is specified, the entire store is used
     
     # Check for default behavior
-      if [ -z "${@:1:1}" ]; then
+      if [ -z "${*:1:1}" ]; then
           readonly NOTEBOOK=""
           printf "%s\n" "Store"
     else                       
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ vns_rm () {
     # removes (note) from the store
     
     # Verify $1 is bound
-      if [ -z "${@:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
+      if [ -z "${*:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
     
     # Verify the note exists
       if [ ! -r "$VNS_STORE/$1.gpg" ]; then
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ vns_create () {
     # Edit a previously non-existant note
 
     # Verify $1 is bound    
-      if [ -z "${@:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
+      if [ -z "${*:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
     
     # Refuse to overwrite a note
       if [ -r "$VNS_STORE/$1.gpg" ]; then vns_raise "Note already exists" 31; fi
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ vns_edit () {
     # edit (note) in the store
 
     # Verify $1 is bound    
-      if [ -z "${@:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
+      if [ -z "${*:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
     
     # Refuse to edit non-existant notes
       if [ ! -r "$VNS_STORE/$1.gpg" ]; then vns_raise "Note not found: $1" 41; fi
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ vns_print () {
     # print the given note to stdout
  
     # Verify $1 is bound    
-      if [ -z "${@:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
+      if [ -z "${*:1:1}" ]; then vns_raise "Insufficient arguments" 11; fi
    
     # Decrypt the specified note
       gpg2 -d "$VNS_STORE/$1.gpg"
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ vns () {
 
 
     # Default action is to list all notes
-      if [ -z "${@:1:1}" ]; then vns_list ""; exit 0; fi
+      if [ -z "${*:1:1}" ]; then vns_list ""; exit 0; fi
     
     # List of valid arguments  
       declare -A -r ACTIONS=( ["-c"]="vns_create"    ["-d"]="vns_rm"\