diff --git a/tests/test_console.py b/tests/test_console.py
index cd74253..2920b27 100644
--- a/tests/test_console.py
+++ b/tests/test_console.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def test_post_with_options(mock_post, mock_uuid, capsys):
         '--visibility', 'unlisted',
         '--sensitive',
         '--spoiler-text', 'Spoiler!',
-        '--reply-to', '123',
+        '--reply-to', '123a',
         '--language', 'hrv',
     ]
 
diff --git a/toot/console.py b/toot/console.py
index 2ebc397..4ab1965 100644
--- a/toot/console.py
+++ b/toot/console.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ POST_COMMANDS = [
                 "help": "text to be shown as a warning before the actual content",
             }),
             (["-r", "--reply-to"], {
-                "type": int,
+                "type": str,
                 "help": "local ID of the status you want to reply to",
             }),
             (["-l", "--language"], {
diff --git a/toot/tui/app.py b/toot/tui/app.py
index 92813a5..236481c 100644
--- a/toot/tui/app.py
+++ b/toot/tui/app.py
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ class TUI(urwid.Frame):
 
         def _done(instance):
             if "max_toot_chars" in instance:
-                self.max_toot_chars
+                self.max_toot_chars = instance["max_toot_chars"]
 
         return self.run_in_thread(_load_instance, done_callback=_done)