diff --git a/docs/source/installation.rst b/docs/source/installation.rst
index e6dbdad67..b08094919 100644
--- a/docs/source/installation.rst
+++ b/docs/source/installation.rst
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ After the installation of pyiron we need to configure pyiron. The default config
 .. code-block:: python
 
    > import pyiron
+   > pyiron.install()
    >>> It appears that pyiron is not yet configured, do you want to create a default start configuration (recommended: yes). [yes/no]:
    > yes
    > exit()
diff --git a/pyiron/__init__.py b/pyiron/__init__.py
index 85294f0fc..be8b69934 100644
--- a/pyiron/__init__.py
+++ b/pyiron/__init__.py
@@ -4,8 +4,13 @@
 from pyiron.project import Project
 from pyiron.atomistics.structure.atoms import ase_to_pyiron, pyiron_to_ase, Atoms
 from pyiron.base.job.script import Notebook
+from pyiron.base.settings.install import install_dialog
 
 from ._version import get_versions
 
 __version__ = get_versions()["version"]
 del get_versions
+
+
+def install():
+    install_dialog()
diff --git a/pyiron/base/settings/generic.py b/pyiron/base/settings/generic.py
index 7df0a3fa1..e193fea3d 100644
--- a/pyiron/base/settings/generic.py
+++ b/pyiron/base/settings/generic.py
@@ -98,8 +98,9 @@ def __init__(self, config=None):
                 config=self._configuration
             )
         else:
-            self._install_dialog(config_file=config_file)
-            self._config_parse_file(config_file=config_file)
+            print("Fall back to default configuration: "
+                  "{'resource_paths': ['~/pyiron/resources'], "
+                  "'project_paths': ['~/pyiron/projects']}")
 
         # Take dictionary as primary source - overwrite everything
         self._read_external_config(config=config)
@@ -497,24 +498,6 @@ def _read_external_config(self, config):
                         "Config dictionary parameter type not recognized ", key, value
                     )
 
-    @staticmethod
-    def _install_dialog(config_file):
-        user_input = None
-        while user_input not in ["yes", "no"]:
-            user_input = input(
-                "It appears that pyiron is not yet configured, do you want to create a default start configuration (recommended: yes). [yes/no]:"
-            )
-        if user_input.lower() == "yes" or user_input.lower() == "y":
-            install_pyiron(
-                config_file_name=config_file,
-                zip_file="resources.zip",
-                resource_directory="~/pyiron/resources",
-                giturl_for_zip_file="https://github.com/pyiron/pyiron-resources/archive/master.zip",
-                git_folder_name="pyiron-resources-master",
-            )
-        else:
-            raise ValueError("pyiron was not installed!")
-
     @staticmethod
     def get_config_from_environment(environment, config):
         env_key_mapping = {
diff --git a/pyiron/base/settings/install.py b/pyiron/base/settings/install.py
index 520ddc54a..12c9cbf28 100644
--- a/pyiron/base/settings/install.py
+++ b/pyiron/base/settings/install.py
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ def _download_resources(
     user_directory = os.path.normpath(
         os.path.abspath(os.path.expanduser(resource_directory))
     )
+    if os.path.exists(user_directory) and not os.listdir(user_directory):
+        os.rmdir(user_directory)
     temp_directory = tempfile.gettempdir()
     temp_zip_file = os.path.join(temp_directory, zip_file)
     temp_extract_folder = os.path.join(temp_directory, git_folder_name)
@@ -98,6 +100,31 @@ def _write_config_file(
             os.makedirs(project_path)
 
 
+def install_dialog():
+    user_input = None
+    if "PYIRONCONFIG" in os.environ.keys():
+        config_file = os.environ["PYIRONCONFIG"]
+    else:
+        config_file = "~/.pyiron"
+    if not os.path.exists(os.path.expanduser(config_file)):
+        while user_input not in ["yes", "no"]:
+            user_input = input(
+                "It appears that pyiron is not yet configured, do you want to create a default start configuration (recommended: yes). [yes/no]:"
+            )
+        if user_input.lower() == "yes" or user_input.lower() == "y":
+            install_pyiron(
+                config_file_name="~/.pyiron",
+                zip_file="resources.zip",
+                resource_directory="~/pyiron/resources",
+                giturl_for_zip_file="https://github.com/pyiron/pyiron-resources/archive/master.zip",
+                git_folder_name="pyiron-resources-master",
+            )
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("pyiron was not installed!")
+    else:
+        print("pyiron is already installed.")
+
+
 def install_pyiron(
     config_file_name="~/.pyiron",
     zip_file="resources.zip",