diff --git a/features/groups/group_functionality.go b/features/groups/group_functionality.go
index ef0cc14..d1ce1dd 100644
--- a/features/groups/group_functionality.go
+++ b/features/groups/group_functionality.go
@@ -97,12 +97,14 @@ func (gf *GroupFunctionality) HandleImportString(peer peer.CwtchPeer, importStri
 
 	if strings.HasPrefix(importString, tofuBundlePrefix) {
 		bundle := strings.Split(importString, "||")
-		err := gf.HandleImportString(peer, bundle[0][len(tofuBundlePrefix):])
-		// if the server import failed then abort the whole process..
-		if strings.HasSuffix(err.Error(), "success") == false {
-			return features.ConstructResponse(importBundlePrefix, err.Error())
+		if len(bundle) == 2 {
+			err := gf.HandleImportString(peer, bundle[0][len(tofuBundlePrefix):])
+			// if the server import failed then abort the whole process..
+			if strings.HasSuffix(err.Error(), "success") == false {
+				return features.ConstructResponse(importBundlePrefix, err.Error())
+			}
+			return gf.HandleImportString(peer, bundle[1])
 		}
-		return gf.HandleImportString(peer, bundle[1])
 	} else if strings.HasPrefix(importString, serverPrefix) {
 		// Server Key Bundles are prefixed with
 		bundle, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(importString[len(serverPrefix):])
diff --git a/lib.go b/lib.go
index 43fa634..74ccd8e 100644
--- a/lib.go
+++ b/lib.go
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ func StartCwtch(appDir string, torPath string) {
 	// Exclude Tapir wire Messages (We need a TRACE level)
 	log.ExcludeFromPattern("service.go")
 
+	// Ensure that the application directory exists...and then initialize settings..
+	os.MkdirAll(path.Join(appDir), 0700)
 	utils.InitGlobalSettingsFile(appDir, "be gay do crime")
 
 	log.Infof("Loading Cwtch Directory %v and tor path: %v", appDir, torPath)
diff --git a/utils/settings.go b/utils/settings.go
index 05b4c94..719404d 100644
--- a/utils/settings.go
+++ b/utils/settings.go
@@ -46,14 +46,17 @@ func InitGlobalSettingsFile(directory string, password string) error {
 	var key [32]byte
 	salt, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path.Join(directory, saltFile))
 	if err != nil {
+		log.Infof("Could not find salt file: %v (creating a new settings file)", err)
 		var newSalt [128]byte
 		key, newSalt, err = v1.CreateKeySalt(password)
 		if err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("Could not initialize salt: %v", err)
 			return err
 		}
 		os.Mkdir(directory, 0700)
 		err := ioutil.WriteFile(path.Join(directory, saltFile), newSalt[:], 0600)
 		if err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("Could not write salt file: %v", err)
 			return err
 		}
 	} else {
@@ -61,21 +64,28 @@ func InitGlobalSettingsFile(directory string, password string) error {
 	}
 
 	GlobalSettingsFile = v1.NewFileStore(directory, GlobalSettingsFilename, key)
+	log.Infof("initialized global settings file: %v", GlobalSettingsFile)
 	return nil
 }
 
 func ReadGlobalSettings() *GlobalSettings {
 	settings := DefaultGlobalSettings
 
+	if GlobalSettingsFile == nil {
+		log.Errorf("Global Settings File was not Initialized Properly")
+		return &settings
+	}
+
 	settingsBytes, err := GlobalSettingsFile.Read()
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("Could not read global ui settings: %v\n", err)
+		log.Infof("Could not read global ui settings: %v (assuming this is a first time app deployment...)", err)
 		return &settings //firstTime = true
 	}
 
 	err = json.Unmarshal(settingsBytes, &settings)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("Could not parse global ui settings: %v\n", err)
+		// TODO if settings is corrupted, we probably want to alert the UI.
 		return &settings //firstTime = true
 	}