diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1543b2e..9538c51 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+### [2.3.5](https://github.com/jm33-m0/mec/compare/v2.3.4...v2.3.5) (2022-03-26)
+
+
+### Bug Fixes
+
+* unable to start when installed via BlackArch package ([70250cc](https://github.com/jm33-m0/mec/commit/70250cc587a5e17e52a6980ee452c932581953c1))
+
 ### [2.3.4](https://github.com/jm33-m0/mec/compare/v2.3.3...v2.3.4) (2022-03-24)
 
 
diff --git a/lib/cli/core.py b/lib/cli/core.py
index 56081f8..9452cdd 100644
--- a/lib/cli/core.py
+++ b/lib/cli/core.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 import psutil
 import requests
 import tqdm
-
 from lib.cli import cmd, colors, console
 from lib.cli import exploits as exploit_exec
 from lib.cli import futil
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@
 MECROOT = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser("~"), ".mec")
 
 # version string, see https://github.com/googleapis/release-please/blob/f398bdffdae69772c61a82cd7158cca3478c2110/src/updaters/generic.ts#L30
-VERSION = "v2.3.4"  # x-release-please-version
+VERSION = "v2.3.5"  # x-release-please-version
 
 
 class Session:
@@ -96,10 +95,7 @@ def handle_config(line):
         except (FileNotFoundError, IndexError):
             self.auto_update = False
         finally:
-            try:
-                self.version = get_version()
-            except BaseException:
-                self.version = "UNKNOWN"
+            self.version = get_version()
 
             if self.auto_update:
                 self.call_update(silent=True)
diff --git a/lib/cli/main.py b/lib/cli/main.py
index 60bacce..3e990b5 100644
--- a/lib/cli/main.py
+++ b/lib/cli/main.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 '''
 
 import os
+import shutil
 import sys
 
 from lib.cli import cmd, colors, console, core, futil, rlinit
@@ -59,7 +60,14 @@ def run():
         os.system('clear')
 
         if not os.path.isdir(core.MECROOT):
-            os.mkdir(core.MECROOT)
+            try:
+                # copy mec data from /usr/share, if installed via BlackArch package
+                shutil.copytree("/usr/share/massexpconsole", core.MECROOT)
+            except FileNotFoundError:
+                pass
+            except BaseException:
+                console.debug_except()
+
         os.chdir(core.MECROOT)
         console.print_banner(ver=core.get_version(),
                              exp_cnt=len(futil.list_exp()))
@@ -68,7 +76,6 @@ def run():
         console.print_error('[-] Exiting...')
     except FileNotFoundError:
         console.debug_except()
-        console.print_error("[-] Please run install.py first")
         sys.exit(1)
     except BaseException:
         console.print_error(