diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..36570c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+data/weather.txt
diff --git a/data/.gitkeep b/data/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/data/weather.txt b/data/weather.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index da28569..0000000
--- a/data/weather.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Loading...
diff --git a/scripts/dracula.sh b/scripts/dracula.sh
index bf9c146..f3adc12 100755
--- a/scripts/dracula.sh
+++ b/scripts/dracula.sh
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ main()
   # status bar
   tmux set-option -g status-style "bg=${gray},fg=${white}"
 
+  # wait unit data/weather.txt exists just to avoid errors
+  # this should almost never need to wait unless something unexpected occurs
+  while [ ! -f $current_dir/../data/weather.txt ]; do
+      sleep 0.01
+  done
 
   # Powerline Configuration
   if $show_powerline; then
diff --git a/scripts/sleep_weather.sh b/scripts/sleep_weather.sh
index c3de174..d42adb0 100755
--- a/scripts/sleep_weather.sh
+++ b/scripts/sleep_weather.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,10 @@ main()
 
 	current_dir="$( cd "$( dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}" )" && pwd )"
 
+	if [ ! -f $current_dir/../data/weather.txt ]; then
+		printf "Loading..." > $current_dir/../data/weather.txt
+	fi
+
 	$current_dir/weather.sh > $current_dir/../data/weather.txt
 
 	while tmux has-session &> /dev/null