diff --git a/doRelease.go b/doRelease.go
index 55ff7df..9cdd6d3 100644
--- a/doRelease.go
+++ b/doRelease.go
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ func doRelease() bool {
 	} else {
 		pwd, _ := os.Getwd()
 		log.Info("go.mod disappeared. need to run go mod init and go mod tidy here:", pwd)
+		shell.RunRealtime([]string{"go", "mod", "init"})
+		shell.RunRealtime([]string{"go", "mod", "tidy"})
 		return false
 	}
 
@@ -186,7 +188,14 @@ func doPublishVersion() bool {
 	if gopath == "go.wit.com/apps/guireleaser" {
 		log.Info("CAN NOT SELF UPDATE. cmd =", docmd)
 		log.Info("go get must be run from somewhere else other than guireleaser")
-		result = shell.PathRun("/home/jcarr/go/src/go.wit.com/apps/autotypist", docmd)
+		log.Info("chdir to autotypist if it exists")
+		if shell.Exists("/home/jcarr/go/src/go.wit.com/apps/autotypist") {
+			os.Chdir("/home/jcarr/go/src/go.wit.com/apps/autotypist") 
+		} else {
+			log.Info("need to chdir somewhere with go.sum & go.mod")
+			return false
+		}
+		// result = shell.PathRun("/home/jcarr/go/src/go.wit.com/apps/autotypist", docmd)
 	} else {
 		// publish go.mod & go.sum for use with go
 		os.Unsetenv("GO111MODULE")