diff --git a/install.py b/install.py
index 9172412..d0c1c3b 100755
--- a/install.py
+++ b/install.py
@@ -1,11 +1,43 @@
 #!/bin/python3
 
 import yaml
+import os
+from os.path import expanduser
+from shutil import copyfile
+
+# get home directory
+home = expanduser("~")
+
+# get config path
+config_dir = home + '/.config/StartTree'
+config_path = home + '/.config/StartTree/config.yaml'
+
+# check if .config path exists
+if not os.path.isdir(home + '/.config'):
+    print("The directory '~/.config' does not exist, or you do not have permissions to edit it.")
+    exit()
+
+# check if .config/StartTree exists, create it and config if not
+if not os.path.isdir(config_dir):
+    print("Creating '~/.config/StartTree'...")
+    os.mkdir(config_dir)
+    print("Copying config.yaml")
+    copyfile("./config.yaml", config_path)
+    print("")
+
+# check if config.yaml exists
+if not os.path.exists(config_path):
+    print("No config.yaml found in '~/.config/StartTree'")
+    print("Copy the example config with:")
+    print("\tcp ./config.yaml $HOME/.config/StartTree/config.yaml")
+    print("or create your own in that directory.")
+    exit()
+
 
 file_dict = {}
 num_columns = 0
 
-with open(r'./config.yaml') as file:
+with open(config_path, mode='r') as file:
     file_dict = yaml.full_load(file)
     file.close()