diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/matrix.rs b/hive-c0re/src/matrix.rs
index 3a819c5b..2b99fa4d 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/matrix.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/matrix.rs
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ pub async fn ensure_admin_user(client: &reqwest::Client, register_token: &str) -
 }
 
 /// Promote a user to homeserver admin via the Matrix admin room
-/// (`#admins:<server>`). Sends `make-user-admin @<localpart>:<server>` as
+/// (`#admins:<server>`). Sends `!admin users make-user-admin @<localpart>:<server>` as
 /// @hive, polls for the bot's "Done:" success response.
 ///
 /// tuwunel 1.6.x does not implement `/_synapse/admin/v2/users`; all admin
@@ -820,7 +820,7 @@ pub async fn promote_user_to_admin(
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let room_id = discover_admin_room_id(client, admin_token, server_name).await?;
     let room_url = encode_room_id_for_url(&room_id);
-    let command = format!("make-user-admin @{localpart}:{server_name}");
+    let command = format!("!admin users make-user-admin @{localpart}:{server_name}");
     admin_room_send_and_poll(client, admin_token, server_name, &room_url, &command, |body| {
         let lower = body.to_ascii_lowercase();
         if lower.starts_with("done") || lower.contains("made") && lower.contains("admin") {
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ pub async fn promote_user_to_admin(
         format!(
             "matrix: admin room make-user-admin for @{localpart}:{server_name}: \
              no success response within 15 seconds. \
-             Verify the admin room accepts 'make-user-admin @user:server' commands."
+             Verify the admin room accepts '!admin users make-user-admin @user:server' commands."
         )
     })
 }