diff --git a/abbott/entrypt.py b/abbott/entrypt.py
index dbd87f5..6a5f93b 100644
--- a/abbott/entrypt.py
+++ b/abbott/entrypt.py
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@
 import sys
 
 def main():
+    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
+        print "Usage: %s <config dir>" % sys.argv[0]
+        sys.exit(1)
     transportobj = transport.Transport()
     boss = pluginbase.PluginBoss(sys.argv[1], transportobj)
 
diff --git a/abbott/pluginbase.py b/abbott/pluginbase.py
index 22566ec..bfff8b7 100644
--- a/abbott/pluginbase.py
+++ b/abbott/pluginbase.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 import UserDict
 import os
 import os.path
+import sys
 
 from twisted.internet import defer
 
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ def __init__(self, jsonfile):
         """Initialize a config from a json file."""
         self._jsonfile = jsonfile
         with open(jsonfile, 'r') as inp:
-            self.data= json.load(inp)
+            self.data = json.load(inp)
 
     def save(self):
         with open(self._jsonfile+"~", 'w') as out:
@@ -38,6 +39,12 @@ def __init__(self, config, transport):
         self._filename = os.path.join(config, "config.json")
 
         self.loaded_plugins = {}
+
+        if not os.path.exists(self._configdir):
+            os.mkdir(self._configdir)
+        elif not os.path.isdir(self._configdir):
+            print("The config parameter should be a directory. Please make the necessary adjustments")
+            sys.exit(1)
         
         try:
             self._load()
@@ -91,8 +98,15 @@ def _seed_defaults(self):
                         'irc.IRCBotPlugin',
                         'irc.IRCController',
                         'ircutil.ReplyInserter',
+                        # whois and names probably aren't necessary unless
+                        # you're also running the ircadmin plugins, but just
+                        # in case, it can't hurt.
+                        'ircutil.IRCWhois',
+                        'ircutil.Names',
                         'auth.Auth',
                         'plugincontroller.PluginController',
+                        'corecontrol.CoreControl',
+                        'corecontrol.Help',
                         ],
                     },
                 'plugin_config': {
@@ -112,6 +126,9 @@ def _seed_defaults(self):
                             },
                         },
                     },
+                'command': {
+                    "prefix": None,
+                    },
                 }
         self.save()
 
diff --git a/abbott/plugins/ircutil.py b/abbott/plugins/ircutil.py
index d70a9ad..4dcd80f 100644
--- a/abbott/plugins/ircutil.py
+++ b/abbott/plugins/ircutil.py
@@ -44,14 +44,14 @@ def start(self):
 
         self.listen_for_event("irc.on_unknown")
 
-        self.install_command(
-                cmdname="whois",
-                argmatch=r"(?P<nick>[^ ]+)",
-                callback=self.do_whois,
-                cmdusage="<nick>",
-                helptext="Does a whois and prints the results. This command is meant for debugging.",
-                permission="irc.whois",
-                )
+        #self.install_command(
+        #        cmdname="whois",
+        #        argmatch=r"(?P<nick>[^ ]+)",
+        #        callback=self.do_whois,
+        #        cmdusage="<nick>",
+        #        helptext="Does a whois and prints the results. This command is meant for debugging.",
+        #        permission="irc.whois",
+        #        )
 
         # nick of the current whois that is coming in on the wire right this
         # moment
@@ -142,14 +142,14 @@ def start(self):
 
         self.listen_for_event("irc.on_unknown")
 
-        self.install_command(
-                cmdname="names",
-                argmatch=r"(?P<channel>\S+)?$",
-                cmdusage="[channel]",
-                callback=self.do_names,
-                helptext="Does an IRC NAMES command and replies with the result",
-                permission="irc.names",
-                )
+        #self.install_command(
+        #        cmdname="names",
+        #        argmatch=r"(?P<channel>\S+)?$",
+        #        cmdusage="[channel]",
+        #        callback=self.do_names,
+        #        helptext="Does an IRC NAMES command and replies with the result",
+        #        permission="irc.names",
+        #        )
 
         self.currentinfo = []
         self.pending = defaultdict(set)