diff --git a/src/ingestions.rs b/src/ingestions.rs
index c547a0a..308c806 100644
--- a/src/ingestions.rs
+++ b/src/ingestions.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use chrono::{NaiveDateTime, Utc};
 use color_eyre::Section;
 use inquire;
 use serde::{self, Deserialize, Serialize};
-use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::{collections::HashMap, process::exit};
 use strum::{EnumIter, IntoEnumIterator};
 use uuid::Uuid;
 
@@ -54,8 +54,15 @@ pub fn add_ingestion() {
     } else {
         std::fs::File::create(INGESTIONS_FILE.to_string()).unwrap();
         ingesstions_bytes_loaded_des = HashMap::new();
+        let ingesstions_bytes_loaded_ser =
+            bincode::serialize(&ingesstions_bytes_loaded_des).unwrap();
+        std::fs::write(INGESTIONS_FILE.to_string(), ingesstions_bytes_loaded_ser).unwrap();
     }
     let substances = crate::substances::substances_to_vec();
+    if substances.is_empty() {
+        eprintln!("Add a substance before you log an ingestions");
+        exit(1)
+    }
     let substance = inquire::Select::new("What did yout ingest?", substances)
         .prompt()
         .unwrap();
@@ -139,3 +146,9 @@ pub fn list_ingestions() -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
 
     Ok(())
 }
+
+pub fn create_ingestions_file() -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+    let hash: HashMap<Uuid, Ingestion> = HashMap::new();
+    let hash_ser = bincode::serialize(&hash).unwrap();
+    std::fs::write(INGESTIONS_FILE.to_string(), hash_ser)
+}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 7394e9f..bfb7820 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use std::{collections::HashMap, path::Path};
 use bincode::serialize;
 use chrono::Utc;
 use clap::{Parser, Subcommand};
-use config::LOCAL_PATH;
+use config::{INGESTIONS_FILE, LOCAL_PATH, SUBSTANCES_FILE};
 use git2;
 use inquire;
 use serde::{self, Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -64,6 +64,34 @@ fn main() {
             }
         }
     }
+    if !substances::path_exists(SUBSTANCES_FILE.to_string()) {
+        match substances::create_substances_file() {
+            Ok(_) => {
+                println!(
+                    "Created substances file at {:?}",
+                    SUBSTANCES_FILE.to_string()
+                )
+            }
+            Err(_) => {
+                eprintln!("Could not create substances file");
+                panic!()
+            }
+        };
+    }
+    if !substances::path_exists(INGESTIONS_FILE.to_string()) {
+        match ingestions::create_ingestions_file() {
+            Ok(_) => {
+                println!(
+                    "Created ingestions file at {:?}",
+                    INGESTIONS_FILE.to_string()
+                )
+            }
+            Err(_) => {
+                eprintln!("Could not create substances file");
+                panic!()
+            }
+        };
+    }
     let cli = Cli::parse();
 
     match &cli.command {
diff --git a/src/substances.rs b/src/substances.rs
index 947ac68..9d39606 100644
--- a/src/substances.rs
+++ b/src/substances.rs
@@ -106,3 +106,9 @@ pub fn substances_to_vec() -> Vec<String> {
     }
     sub_vec
 }
+
+pub fn create_substances_file() -> Result<(), std::io::Error> {
+    let hash: HashMap<Uuid, Substance> = HashMap::new();
+    let hash_ser = bincode::serialize(&hash).unwrap();
+    std::fs::write(SUBSTANCES_FILE.to_string(), hash_ser)
+}