diff --git a/isTracked.go b/isTracked.go
index 391ecd5..414414b 100644
--- a/isTracked.go
+++ b/isTracked.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func isIgnored(file string) (bool, error) {
 	return false, fmt.Errorf("error checking ignored status: %v", err)
 }
 
-func repoOwnsGoMod(repo *gitpb.Repo) (bool, error) {
+func repoIgnoresGoMod(repo *gitpb.Repo) (bool, error) {
 	os.Chdir(repo.FullPath)
 	file := "go.mod"
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func repoOwnsGoMod(repo *gitpb.Repo) (bool, error) {
 
 	if tracked {
 		fmt.Printf("%s %s is tracked by Git.\n", repo.GoPath, file)
-		return true, nil
+		return false, nil
 	}
 
 	ignored, err := isIgnored(file)
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index fb50fa0..6861e0e 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func main() {
 		}
 	} else {
 		// figure out what directory we are running in
-		check := findPwdRepo()
+		check = findPwdRepo()
 		if check == nil {
 			log.Info("this directory isn't in a golang project (not in ~/go/src nor a go.work file)")
 			os.Exit(-1)
@@ -103,13 +103,11 @@ func doMain(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 	} else {
 		log.Info(repo.GoPath, "is valid according to forge")
 	}
-	if err := repo.ValidGoSum(); err == nil {
-		log.Info(repo.GoPath, "go.mod and go.sum are already valid")
-		return nil
-	}
 
 	// skip restore if --force
 	if !argv.Force {
+		// erase the go.mod and go.sum files
+		eraseGoMod(repo)
 		cname := repo.GetCurrentBranchName()
 		// try to restore from the git metadata
 		if err := repo.AutogenRestore(cname); err != nil {
@@ -122,6 +120,12 @@ func doMain(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// double check here. use --force to remake them
+	if err := repo.ValidGoSum(); err == nil {
+		log.Info(repo.GoPath, "go.mod and go.sum are already valid")
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if repo.GetMasterBranchName() != repo.GetCurrentBranchName() {
 		log.Info("")
 		log.Info("You can only run go-mod-clean on a git master branch.")
@@ -131,19 +135,22 @@ func doMain(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		return errors.New(repo.GoPath + " not in the git master branch")
 	}
 
-	ok, err := repoOwnsGoMod(repo)
+	ok, err := repoIgnoresGoMod(repo)
 	if err != nil {
+		log.Info(repo.GoPath, "some wierd git error happened. investigate.", err)
 		return err
 	}
 	// if ok, then git owns 'go.mod' and we can't really do anything
 	// todo: ignore this with --force
 	if ok {
-		return nil
+		log.Info(repo.GoPath, "git says it does not own go.mod")
+		// continue and attempt to create go.mod and go.sum
 	} else {
 		if forge.Config.IsReadOnly(repo.GoPath) {
 			log.Info("skipping read only", repo.GoPath)
 			return nil
 		}
+		// continue and attempt to create go.mod and go.sum
 	}
 
 	if repo.CheckDirty() {
@@ -153,7 +160,9 @@ func doMain(repo *gitpb.Repo) error {
 		return errors.New(repo.GoPath + " git repo is dirty")
 	}
 
-	// re-create go.sum and go.mod
+	log.Info(repo.GoPath, "GOING TO MAKE NEW go.* FILES")
+
+	// actually will re-create go.sum and go.mod now
 	if err := redoGoMod(repo); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}