diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index a9d1972..4438297 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -103,11 +103,21 @@ func main() {
 	protobase := strings.TrimSuffix(argv.Proto, ".proto")
 	f.Filebase = protobase
 
-	if err := pb.findGlobalAutogenpb(f); err != nil {
+	// parse the .proto file
+	if err := pb.protoParse(f); err != nil {
 		log.Info("autogenpb parse error:", err)
 		os.Exit(-1)
 	}
 
+	// parse sort & marshal options from the .proto file
+	// this goes through the .proto files and looks
+	// for `autogenpb: ` lines
+	if err := pb.protoParseNew(f); err != nil {
+		log.Info("autogenpb parse error:", err)
+		os.Exit(-1)
+	}
+
+	// this should be garbage soon
 	sortmap = make(map[string]string)
 	sortmap["package"] = packageName
 	sortmap["protofile"] = argv.Proto
@@ -134,14 +144,6 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 
-	// parse sort & marshal options from the .proto file
-	// this goes through the .proto files and looks
-	// for `autogenpb: ` lines
-	if err := pb.findAutogenpb(f); err != nil {
-		log.Info("autogenpb parse error:", err)
-		os.Exit(-1)
-	}
-
 	// try to make foo.pb.go with protoc if it's not here
 	// this is helpful because the protoc-gen-go lines
 	// are also annoying to code by hand
diff --git a/protoParse.go b/protoParse.go
index a27a4fb..c9feb47 100644
--- a/protoParse.go
+++ b/protoParse.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import (
 // finds autogenpb:marshal and autogenpb:unique in the .proto file
 //
 //	adds fields to []marshal and []unique
-func (pb *Files) findAutogenpb(f *File) error {
+func (pb *Files) protoParseNew(f *File) error {
 	// log.Info("starting findAutogenpb() on", names["protofile"])
 	// read in the .proto file
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(f.Filename)
@@ -41,22 +41,29 @@ func (pb *Files) findAutogenpb(f *File) error {
 
 		if strings.Contains(line, "autogenpb:sort") {
 			if parts[0] == "repeated" {
-				newm := parts[1]
+				newS := parts[1]
 				if curmsg == nil {
-					log.Info("Error: Found Sort for:", newm, "however, this struct can't be used")
+					log.Info("Error: Found Sort for:", newS, "however, this struct can't be used")
 				} else {
-					log.Info("Found Sort for:", newm, "in struct", curmsg.Name)
+					log.Info("Addded Sort:", newS, "in struct", curmsg.Name)
+					curmsg.Sort = append(curmsg.Sort, newS)
 				}
 			} else {
 				log.Info("Error:", line)
 				log.Info("Error: can not sort on non repeated fields")
 			}
 		}
+
 		if strings.Contains(line, "autogenpb:unique") {
 			if parts[0] == "repeated" {
-				newu := parts[1]
-				newu = cases.Title(language.English, cases.NoLower).String(newu)
-				log.Info("Found unique field", newu, "in struct", curmsg.Name)
+				newU := parts[1]
+				newU = cases.Title(language.English, cases.NoLower).String(newU)
+				if curmsg == nil {
+					log.Info("Error: Found Unique for:", newU, "however, this struct can't be used")
+				} else {
+					log.Info("Added Unique:", newU, "in struct", curmsg.Name)
+					curmsg.Unique = append(curmsg.Unique, newU)
+				}
 			} else {
 				log.Info("Error:", line)
 				log.Info("Error: can not append on non repeated fields")
@@ -88,7 +95,8 @@ func (f *File) parseForMessage(line string) *MsgName {
 	return msg
 }
 
-func (pb *Files) findGlobalAutogenpb(f *File) error {
+// this doesn't do anything anymore (?)
+func (pb *Files) protoParse(f *File) error {
 	// log.Info("starting findAutogenpb() on", filename)
 	// read in the .proto file
 	data, err := os.ReadFile(f.Filename)