diff --git a/notestorm b/notestorm
index b84b786..003413b 100755
--- a/notestorm
+++ b/notestorm
@@ -188,6 +188,21 @@ encrypt_note() {
     infobox "$(gettext "Encryption failed.")"
 }
 
+original_note() {
+    # If no notes are present this will try to copy the README.md file into the notes directory so the menu won't fail.
+    mapfile -t notes < <(find "$xdgPath/notestorm/notes" -type f -iname '*.md' -o -iname '*.gpg')
+    if [[ "${#notes[@]}" -gt 0 ]]; then
+        return
+    fi
+    if [[ -f "README.md" ]]; then
+        cp "README.md" "${xdgPath}/notestorm/notes/README.md"
+    elif [[ -f "/usr/share/doc/notestorm/README.md" ]]; then
+        cp "README.md" "${xdgPath}/notestorm/notes/README.md"
+    else
+        echo "The README file is missing. Pleae visit the notestorm git page for usage information." > "${xdgPath}/notestorm/notes/README.md"
+    fi
+}
+
 # Configuration section
 # Available arguments in both long and short versions stored in associative array.
 declare -A argList=(
@@ -210,8 +225,9 @@ else
     pager="${PAGER:-more}"
 fi
 xdgPath="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}"
-#set up the notes directory
+# set up the notes directory
 mkdir -p "${xdgPath}/notestorm/notes"
+original_note
 # Keep track of the number of arguments passed to the program.
 argNum=$#
 # Settings to improve accessibility of dialog.