diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index dd0e199..f616826 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/s-rah/go-ricochet/channels"
 	"github.com/s-rah/go-ricochet/utils"
 	"log"
-	//"time"
+
+	"io/ioutil"
 )
 
 type Server struct {
@@ -21,7 +22,14 @@ func (s *Server) Run(privateKeyFile string) {
 	pk, err := utils.LoadPrivateKeyFromFile(privateKeyFile)
 
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("error reading private key file: %v", err)
+		log.Printf("no private key found!")
+		log.Printf("generating new private key...")
+		var pk_err error = nil
+		pk, pk_err = utils.GeneratePrivateKey()
+		if pk_err !=  nil {
+			log.Fatalf("error generating new private key: %v", err)
+		}
+		ioutil.WriteFile(privateKeyFile, []byte(utils.PrivateKeyToString(pk)), 0400)
 	}
 
 	l, err := application.SetupOnion("127.0.0.1:9051", "tcp4", "", pk, 9878)