diff --git a/source/Main.bs b/source/Main.bs
index dd2b4716..2ef81455 100644
--- a/source/Main.bs
+++ b/source/Main.bs
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ sub Main (args as dynamic) as void
     end if
 
     ' has the current user ran this version before?
-    if not versionChecker(m.global.session.user.settings.lastRunVersion, m.global.app.version)
+    usersLastRunVersion = m.global.session.user.settings.lastRunVersion
+    if not isValid(usersLastRunVersion) or not versionChecker(m.global.session.user.settings.lastRunVersion, m.global.app.version)
         set_user_setting("LastRunVersion", m.global.app.version)
         ' show what's new popup
         if m.global.session.user.settings["load.allowwhatsnew"]
diff --git a/source/utils/session.bs b/source/utils/session.bs
index aa020928..71fe1fbf 100644
--- a/source/utils/session.bs
+++ b/source/utils/session.bs
@@ -158,9 +158,6 @@ namespace session
             lastRunVersion = get_user_setting("LastRunVersion")
             if isValid(lastRunVersion)
                 session.user.Update("LastRunVersion", lastRunVersion)
-            else
-                ' new user whos never ran the app before. update lastrunversion in registry
-                set_user_setting("LastRunVersion", m.global.app.version)
             end if
 
             ' update user session settings with values from registry