diff --git a/install.sh b/install.sh
index dc110ee..c82315c 100755
--- a/install.sh
+++ b/install.sh
@@ -1,14 +1,9 @@
 #!/bin/sh -e
-# install.sh
+
 installtarget=/usr/local/bin
 chatlogdir=/var/log/bunkchat
 chatlog=chat.log
 
-if ! [ "$(id -u)" = 0 ]; then
-    echo "ERROR: please run install with root permission" >&2
-    exit 1
-fi
-
 chattrfailed() {
     set +e
     rm -rf $chatlogdir
@@ -18,26 +13,38 @@ chattrfailed() {
     exit 1
 }
 
-# do this setup first in case chattr fails
-# mk chat directory and touch file
-mkdir $chatlogdir
-chmod 755 $chatlogdir
+prep() {
+    mkdir -p $chatlogdir
+    chmod 755 $chatlogdir
+    touch ${chatlogdir}/${chatlog}
+    chmod 666 ${chatlogdir}/${chatlog}
+    # if chattr +a not supported on this file system, catch error and clean up
+    chattr +a ${chatlogdir}/${chatlog} || chattrfailed
+}
 
-touch ${chatlogdir}/${chatlog}
-chmod 666 ${chatlogdir}/${chatlog}
-# if chattr +a not supported on this file system catch error and clean up
-chattr +a ${chatlogdir}/${chatlog} || chattrfailed
+install() {
+    cp proclaim heed scry $installtarget
+    chmod 755 ${installtarget}/proclaim
+    chmod 755 ${installtarget}/heed
+    chmod 755 ${installtarget}/scry
+    chown root:root ${installtarget}/proclaim
+    chown root:root ${installtarget}/heed
+    chown root:root ${installtarget}/scry
 
-cp proclaim heed scry $installtarget
+    echo "SUCCESS! bunkchat installed!"
+    exit 0
+}
 
-chmod 755 ${installtarget}/proclaim
-chmod 755 ${installtarget}/heed
-chmod 755 ${installtarget}/scry
+# check for root perms
+if ! [ "$(id -u)" = 0 ]; then
+    echo "ERROR: please run install with root permission" >&2
+    exit 1
+fi
 
-chown root:root ${installtarget}/proclaim
-chown root:root ${installtarget}/heed
-chown root:root ${installtarget}/scry
-
-
-echo "SUCCESS! bunkchat installed!"
-exit 0
+# if chat.log exists, skip prep
+if [ -f ${chatlogdir}/${chatlog} ]; then
+    install
+else
+    prep
+    install
+fi