diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2ff540d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+proto
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index f6d287d..beb964c 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ rm -rf $DEST
 # build a proto image - natty + packages that will install (optimization)
 if [ ! -d proto ]; then
     debootstrap natty proto
-    cp sources.list proto/etc/apt/sources.list
+    cp files/sources.list proto/etc/apt/sources.list
     chroot proto apt-get update
     chroot proto apt-get install -y `cat apts/* | cut -d\# -f1 | egrep -v "(rabbitmq|libvirt-bin)"`
     chroot proto pip install `cat pips/*`
@@ -33,17 +33,21 @@ echo "127.0.0.1 localhost $NAME" > $DEST/etc/hosts
 # copy kernel modules
 cp -pr /lib/modules/`uname -r` $DEST/lib/modules
 
+# helpful screenrc
+cp files/screenrc $DEST/root/.screenrc
+
 # copy openstack installer and requirement lists to a new directory.
 mkdir -p $DEST/opt
 cp stack.sh $DEST/opt/stack.sh
 cp -r pips $DEST/opt
 cp -r apts $DEST/opt
 
-# injecting root's ssh key
-# FIXME: only do this if id_rsa.pub exists
-mkdir $DEST/root/.ssh
-chmod 700 $DEST/root/.ssh
-cp /root/.ssh/id_rsa.pub $DEST/root/.ssh/authorized_keys
+# injecting root's public ssh key if it exists
+if [ -f /root/.ssh/id_rsa.pub ]; then
+    mkdir $DEST/root/.ssh
+    chmod 700 $DEST/root/.ssh
+    cp /root/.ssh/id_rsa.pub $DEST/root/.ssh/authorized_keys
+fi
 
 # set root password to password
 echo root:password | chroot $DEST chpasswd
diff --git a/files/screenrc b/files/screenrc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1ca47da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/files/screenrc
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+hardstatus on
+hardstatus alwayslastline
+hardstatus string "%{.bW}%-w%{.rW}%n %t%{-}%+w %=%{..G}%H %{..Y}%d/%m %c"
+
+defscrollback 1024
+
+vbell off
+startup_message off
+
diff --git a/sources.list b/files/sources.list
similarity index 100%
rename from sources.list
rename to files/sources.list
diff --git a/stack.sh b/stack.sh
index c278701..c3d7bbf 100755
--- a/stack.sh
+++ b/stack.sh
@@ -133,18 +133,6 @@ EOF
     exit
 fi
 
-# Configure screen
-cat >~/.screenrc <<EOF
-hardstatus on
-hardstatus alwayslastline
-hardstatus string "%{.bW}%-w%{.rW}%n %t%{-}%+w %=%{..G}%H %{..Y}%d/%m %c"
-
-defscrollback 1024
-
-vbell off
-startup_message off
-EOF
-
 NL=`echo -ne '\015'`
 
 function screen_it {