diff --git a/tests/t1700-depri.sh b/tests/t1700-depri.sh
index 5c2424d..9fcbf8d 100755
--- a/tests/t1700-depri.sh
+++ b/tests/t1700-depri.sh
@@ -68,4 +68,30 @@ TODO: 2 deprioritized.
 TODO: 3 of 3 tasks shown
 EOF
 
+cat > todo.txt <<EOF
+(B) smell the uppercase Roses +flowers @outside
+(A) notice the sunflowers
+stop
+EOF
+test_todo_session 'depriority of unprioritized task' <<EOF
+>>> todo.sh -p list
+2 (A) notice the sunflowers
+1 (B) smell the uppercase Roses +flowers @outside
+3 stop
+--
+TODO: 3 of 3 tasks shown
+
+>>> todo.sh depri 3 2
+TODO: 3 is not prioritized.
+2 notice the sunflowers
+TODO: 2 deprioritized.
+
+>>> todo.sh -p list
+1 (B) smell the uppercase Roses +flowers @outside
+2 notice the sunflowers
+3 stop
+--
+TODO: 3 of 3 tasks shown
+EOF
+
 test_done
diff --git a/todo.sh b/todo.sh
index 4333a84..0d7762a 100755
--- a/todo.sh
+++ b/todo.sh
@@ -923,10 +923,7 @@ case $action in
 	todo=$(sed "$item!d" "$TODO_FILE")
 	[ -z "$todo" ] && die "TODO: No task $item."
 
-	sed -e $item"s/^(.) //" "$TODO_FILE" > /dev/null 2>&1
-
-	if [ "$?" -eq 0 ]; then
-	    #it's all good, continue
+	if sed "$item!d" "$TODO_FILE" | grep "^(.) " > /dev/null; then
 	    sed -i.bak -e $item"s/^(.) //" "$TODO_FILE"
 	    if [ $TODOTXT_VERBOSE -gt 0 ]; then
 		NEWTODO=$(sed "$item!d" "$TODO_FILE")
@@ -934,7 +931,7 @@ case $action in
 		echo "TODO: $item deprioritized."
 	    fi
 	else
-	    die "$errmsg"
+	    echo "TODO: $item is not prioritized."
 	fi
     done
     ;;