diff --git a/sed/calibrator/energy.py b/sed/calibrator/energy.py
index d56ba5b3..a60c341e 100644
--- a/sed/calibrator/energy.py
+++ b/sed/calibrator/energy.py
@@ -1517,6 +1517,10 @@ def apply_energy_offset(
                     print(msg)
         else:
             # use passed parameters
+            if columns is not None and (signs is None or subtract_mean is None):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "If columns is passed, signs and subtract_mean must also be passed.",
+                )
             if isinstance(columns, str):
                 columns = [columns]
             if isinstance(signs, int):
@@ -1530,6 +1534,10 @@ def apply_energy_offset(
         # flip sign for binding energy scale
         energy_scale = self.get_current_calibration().get("energy_scale", None)
         if energy_scale == "binding":
+            if None in signs:
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "Cannot apply binding energy offset to columns with unknown sign.",
+                )
             signs = [-s for s in signs]
         elif energy_scale == "kinetic":
             pass
diff --git a/sed/core/dfops.py b/sed/core/dfops.py
index ee2c897b..9e1532b4 100644
--- a/sed/core/dfops.py
+++ b/sed/core/dfops.py
@@ -359,6 +359,8 @@ def apply_offset_from_columns(
         signs = [signs]
     if len(signs) != len(offset_columns):
         raise ValueError("signs and offset_columns must have the same length!")
+    if isinstance(subtract_mean, bool):
+        subtract_mean = [subtract_mean] * len(offset_columns)
 
     for col, sign, red, submean in zip(offset_columns, signs, reductions, subtract_mean):
         assert col in df.columns, f"{col} not in dataframe!"