diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index d913ece..2dfd1ac 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -75,5 +75,5 @@ build-releases:
 	-go-deb --release --no-gui --repo go.wit.com/apps/helloworld
 	-go-deb --release --no-gui --repo go.wit.com/apps/go-deb
 
-debian:
-	./go-deb --no-gui --repo go.wit.com/apps/go-deb
+debian: build
+	./go-deb --no-gui --keep-files --repo go.wit.com/apps/go-deb
diff --git a/buildPackage.go b/buildPackage.go
index 8c18df1..3af7cfc 100644
--- a/buildPackage.go
+++ b/buildPackage.go
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ func (c *controlBox) buildPackage() (bool, error) {
 	debname := filename + "_" + version + "_" + arch + ".deb"
 	fulldebname := filepath.Join(homeDir, "incoming", debname)
 	if shell.Exists(fulldebname) {
+		log.Info("debian package already built: " + fulldebname)
 		return true, errors.New("debian package already built: " + fulldebname)
 	}
 
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ func (c *controlBox) buildPackage() (bool, error) {
 		// add some standard golang flags
 		vldflag := "-X main.VERSION=" + version
 		gldflag := "-X main.GUIVERSION=" + version // todo: git this from the filesystem
+		// timeflag := "-X main.BUILDTIME='${BUILDTIME}'"
 		cmd = append(cmd, "-ldflags", vldflag)
 		cmd = append(cmd, "-ldflags", gldflag)
 
@@ -97,8 +99,9 @@ func (c *controlBox) buildPackage() (bool, error) {
 	}
 
 	if shell.Exists("files") {
-		if shell.Run([]string{"rm", "-rf", "files"}) {
-			log.Warn("rm failed")
+		shell.Run([]string{"rm", "-rf", "files"})
+		if shell.Exists("files") {
+			log.Warn("rm failed for some reason")
 			return false, errors.New("rm files/")
 		}
 	}
@@ -181,8 +184,9 @@ func (c *controlBox) buildPackage() (bool, error) {
 		if argv.KeepFiles {
 			log.Info("keeping the build files/")
 		} else {
-			if shell.Run([]string{"rm", "-rf", "files"}) {
-				log.Warn("rm failed")
+			shell.Run([]string{"rm", "-rf", "files"})
+			if shell.Exists("files") {
+				log.Warn("rm -rf files/ failed. Run() returned false")
 				return false, errors.New("rm files/")
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 990d6df..9831439 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 	myGui = gui.New()
-	if ! argv.NoGui {
+	if !argv.NoGui {
 		myGui.InitEmbed(resources)
 		myGui.Default()
 	}
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func main() {
 		shell.TestTerminalColor()
 		// basicWindow.Show() // broken gui package. convert to protobuf
 		if ok, err := cBox.buildPackage(); ok {
-			log.Info("build worked")
+			log.Info("build worked before. remove the .deb file to recreate it")
 		} else {
 			log.Warn("build failed:", err)
 			os.Exit(-1)