diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 603ba1a..46e3497 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,20 @@
 export function formatPhone(phone: string) {
-  const phone_length = phone?.toString().length;
-  if (phone_length === 13 && phone.startsWith("+251")) {
-    return phone;
-  } else if (phone_length === 12 && phone.startsWith("251")) {
-    return `+${phone}`;
-  } else if (phone_length === 10 && ["09", "07"].includes(phone.slice(0, 2))) {
-    return `+251${phone.slice(1)}`;
-  } else if (phone_length === 9 && ["9", "7"].includes(phone.charAt(0))) {
-    return `+251${phone}`;
+  const formatted_phone = phone.replace(/[^+\d]/g, "");
+  const phone_length = formatted_phone?.toString().length;
+  if (phone_length === 13 && formatted_phone.startsWith("+251")) {
+    return formatted_phone;
+  } else if (phone_length === 12 && formatted_phone.startsWith("251")) {
+    return `+${formatted_phone}`;
+  } else if (
+    phone_length === 10 &&
+    ["09", "07"].includes(formatted_phone.slice(0, 2))
+  ) {
+    return `+251${formatted_phone.slice(1)}`;
+  } else if (
+    phone_length === 9 &&
+    ["9", "7"].includes(formatted_phone.charAt(0))
+  ) {
+    return `+251${formatted_phone}`;
   } else {
     return "INVALID_PHONE_NUMBER";
   }