diff --git a/znccreate.py b/znccreate.py
index 659586f..d074992 100644
--- a/znccreate.py
+++ b/znccreate.py
@@ -2,40 +2,74 @@
 # Script created/contributed by ~jmjl
 
 import socket, ssl, json, time, sys
-# Takes the first argument as a username and the second as the password.
+
 def loadconf(cfgfile):
     with open(cfgfile, 'r') as f:
-        cfg = json.load(f)
-    return cfg
+        return json.load(f)
+
 def send(msg):
     s.send(f"{msg}\n".encode('utf-8'))
 
 cfg = loadconf("/root/.znc-conf/znc-config.json")
 
-readbuffer=""
+readbuffer = ""
 s = socket.socket()
-if cfg['tls'] == 'yes':
+if cfg.get('tls') == 'yes':
     ctx = ssl.create_default_context(purpose=ssl.Purpose.CLIENT_AUTH)
     s = ctx.wrap_socket(s)
+
 s.connect((cfg['srv'], int(cfg['port'])))
 send("NICK bot")
 send("USER bot 0 * :A bot to make users")
 
+# Parse optional key=value settings after username/password.
+# Example: MaxNetworks=3 MaxClients=5
+cli_settings = {}
+for arg in sys.argv[3:]:
+    if '=' in arg:
+        k, v = arg.split('=', 1)
+        k = k.strip()
+        v = v.strip()
+        if k:
+            cli_settings[k] = v
+
+# Also allow defaults from config, but CLI wins.
+# In /root/.znc-conf/znc-config.json you may add:
+# { ..., "default_user_settings": { "MaxNetworks": "3" } }
+default_settings = cfg.get("default_user_settings", {}) or {}
+
 while True:
-    readbuffer = readbuffer + s.recv(2048).decode('utf-8')
+    readbuffer += s.recv(2048).decode('utf-8', errors='ignore')
     temp = str.split(readbuffer, "\n")
     readbuffer = temp.pop()
 
     for line in temp:
-        line = str.rstrip(line)
-        line = str.split(line)
+        line = line.rstrip("\r")
+        parts = line.split()
 
-        #print(' '.join(line))
-        if line[1] == '464':
+        if len(parts) < 2:
+            continue
+
+        # Authenticate when ZNC asks for PASS (ERR_PASSWDMISMATCH 464).
+        if parts[1] == '464':
             send(f"PASS {cfg['user']}:{cfg['password']}")
-        if line[0][1:] == 'irc.znc.in' and line[1] == '001':
+
+        # On welcome (001), create user and apply settings.
+        # (Preserves your original hostname check.)
+        if parts[0][1:] == 'irc.znc.in' and parts[1] == '001':
             user = sys.argv[1]
             pswd = sys.argv[2]
+
+            # Create user (unchanged)
             send(f"PRIVMSG *controlpanel :AddUser {user} {pswd}")
+
+            # Merge defaults + CLI, CLI overrides
+            effective = dict(default_settings)
+            effective.update(cli_settings)
+
+            # Apply settings like: set MaxNetworks <user> <val>
+            for key, val in effective.items():
+                send(f"PRIVMSG *controlpanel :set {key} {user} {val}")
+
             print(f"Maken znc user {user}")
             sys.exit(0)