diff --git a/modules/launch_utils.py b/modules/launch_utils.py
index fc057feb..f16aa79f 100644
--- a/modules/launch_utils.py
+++ b/modules/launch_utils.py
@@ -533,20 +533,24 @@ def dump_sysinfo():
     return filename
 
 
-VERSION_UID: Final[str] = "POSTMEM"
+VERSION_UID: Final[str] = "PY313"
 
 
 def verify_version():
     """prompt user to do a clean reinstall"""
     settings_file: os.PathLike = args.ui_settings_file
+
     if not os.path.isfile(settings_file):
-        return  # config.json does not exist on a fresh git clone
+        # config.json does not exist on a fresh git clone
+        with open(settings_file, "w", encoding="utf8") as file:
+            json.dump({"VERSION_UID": VERSION_UID}, file)
+            return
 
     with open(settings_file, "r", encoding="utf8") as file:
         settings: dict[str, Any] = json.load(file)
 
     if settings.get("VERSION_UID", None) == VERSION_UID:
-        return  # key matches
+        return  # already up-to-date
 
     os.system("")
 
diff --git a/modules_forge/main_entry.py b/modules_forge/main_entry.py
index 23da1e0b..9b821951 100644
--- a/modules_forge/main_entry.py
+++ b/modules_forge/main_entry.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from rich import print_json
 from backend import memory_management
 from backend.args import dynamic_args
 from backend.logging import setup_logger
-from modules import infotext_utils, launch_utils, paths, processing, sd_models, shared, shared_items, ui_common
+from modules import infotext_utils, paths, processing, sd_models, shared, shared_items, ui_common
 from modules_forge.presets import PresetArch, use_distill, use_shift
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("ui_models")
@@ -200,8 +200,6 @@ def get_a1111_ui_component(tab: str, label: str) -> gr.components.Component:
 
 
 def forge_main_entry():
-    shared.opts.set("VERSION_UID", launch_utils.VERSION_UID)
-
     ui_txt2img_steps = get_a1111_ui_component("txt2img", "Steps")
     ui_txt2img_hr_steps = get_a1111_ui_component("txt2img", "Hires steps")
     ui_img2img_steps = get_a1111_ui_component("img2img", "Steps")