diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index 952ccd1..8500202 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
-(unless (file-exists-p "~/.emacs.d/custom-init.el")
-  (shell-command (concat "touch " "~/.emacs.d/custom-init.el")))
-(load-file "~/.emacs.d/custom-init.el")
+(setq custom-init "~/.emacs.d/custom-init.el")
+
+(unless (file-exists-p custom-init)
+  (dired-create-empty-file custom-init))
+(load-file custom-init)
 
 ;; custom set stuff
 (custom-set-variables
@@ -17,7 +19,7 @@
 (setq custom-file "~/.emacs.d/custom-config.el")
 
 (unless (file-exists-p custom-file)
-  (shell-command (concat "touch " custom-file)))
+  (dired-create-empty-file  custom-file))
 (load custom-file)
 
 ;; whomp helpers