diff --git a/app/build.gradle.kts b/app/build.gradle.kts
index 61cceaa..b816cbc 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/app/build.gradle.kts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ android {
         }
 
         // don't forget to add another "s this is counter intuitive I know but not my fault
-        buildConfigField("String", "VASTAI_KEY", "null")
+        buildConfigField("String", "VASTAI_KEY", "\"\"")
         buildConfigField("String", "VASIAI_API_ENDPOINT", "\"https://cloud.vast.ai/api/v0\"")
     }
 
diff --git a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 65075a9..9a7a2e0 100644
--- a/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
     xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools">
 
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INTERNET" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="com.termux.permission.RUN_COMMAND" />
 
     <application
         android:allowBackup="true"
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/m724/vastapp/activity/PermissionChecker.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/m724/vastapp/activity/PermissionChecker.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..335cdc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/m724/vastapp/activity/PermissionChecker.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+package eu.m724.vastapp.activity
+
+import android.content.Context
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager.NameNotFoundException
+import androidx.activity.ComponentActivity
+import androidx.activity.result.contract.ActivityResultContracts
+import androidx.core.app.ActivityCompat
+
+class PermissionChecker(private val context: Context) {
+    /**
+     * check if the app has a permission
+     * @param permission the permission
+     * @return whether the app has the permission? obviously
+     */
+    fun hasPermission(permission: String): Boolean {
+        return context.checkSelfPermission(permission) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * check if a permission exists or if the app is installed
+     * @param permission the permission
+     * @return if the permission exists
+     */
+    fun permissionExists(permission: String): Boolean {
+        try {
+            context.packageManager.getPermissionInfo(permission, 0)
+            return true
+        } catch (e: NameNotFoundException) {
+            return false
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * @param permission the permission
+     * @param activity the activity you're calling from
+     * @return if the permission can be asked for, that is if the user didn't check "don't ask again"
+     */
+    fun canAskForPermission(permission: String, activity: ComponentActivity): Boolean {
+        return ActivityCompat.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale(activity, permission)
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * request a permission if that permission is not granted
+     * @param permission the permission
+     * @param activity the activity you're calling from
+     * @param callback an Unit, the first boolean is whether the permission is granted and the second one is whether we asked for it
+     */
+    fun requestIfNoPermission(permission: String, activity: ComponentActivity, callback: (Boolean, Boolean) -> Unit) {
+        val available = canAskForPermission(permission, activity)
+
+        if (hasPermission(permission)) {
+            callback(true, false)
+        } else if (available) { // no permission but can request
+            requestPermission(permission, activity) { callback(it, true) }
+        } else { // no permission and can't request
+            callback(false, false)
+        }
+    }
+
+    // TODO should this be private? I mean it doesn't check for other stuff so it's a waste to register an activity if we don't have to
+    private fun requestPermission(permission: String, activity: ComponentActivity, callback: (Boolean) -> Unit) {
+        activity.registerForActivityResult(
+            ActivityResultContracts.RequestPermission(),
+            callback
+        ).launch(permission)
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/eu/m724/vastapp/activity/login/LoginActivity.kt b/app/src/main/java/eu/m724/vastapp/activity/login/LoginActivity.kt
index a4a9f6f..b6ad807 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/eu/m724/vastapp/activity/login/LoginActivity.kt
+++ b/app/src/main/java/eu/m724/vastapp/activity/login/LoginActivity.kt
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import androidx.activity.enableEdgeToEdge
 import androidx.activity.result.ActivityResultLauncher
 import androidx.activity.result.contract.ActivityResultContracts
 import androidx.compose.animation.AnimatedVisibility
-import androidx.compose.animation.animateColor
 import androidx.compose.animation.animateContentSize
 import androidx.compose.animation.core.Spring
 import androidx.compose.animation.core.animateFloat
@@ -48,7 +47,6 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.livedata.observeAsState
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableIntStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.mutableStateOf
 import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
-import androidx.compose.runtime.rememberCoroutineScope
 import androidx.compose.runtime.saveable.rememberSaveable
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
@@ -65,12 +63,12 @@ import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
 import androidx.lifecycle.lifecycleScope
 import eu.m724.vastapp.BuildConfig
 import eu.m724.vastapp.R
+import eu.m724.vastapp.activity.PermissionChecker
 import eu.m724.vastapp.activity.dashboard.DashboardActivity
 import eu.m724.vastapp.ui.theme.VastappTheme
 import eu.m724.vastapp.vastai.data.User
 import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
 import org.chromium.net.CronetEngine
-import org.w3c.dom.Text
 import java.util.concurrent.Executors
 import kotlin.random.Random
 
@@ -80,9 +78,30 @@ class LoginActivity : ComponentActivity() {
     override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
         super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
 
+        // TODO move this where and run this when we need it
+        val permissionChecker = PermissionChecker(applicationContext)
+        if (!permissionChecker.permissionExists("com.termux.permission.RUN_COMMAND")) {
+            Toast.makeText(
+                applicationContext,
+                R.string.no_termux,
+                Toast.LENGTH_SHORT
+            ).show()
+        } else {
+            permissionChecker.requestIfNoPermission("com.termux.permission.RUN_COMMAND", this) { granted, asked ->
+                if (granted || !asked) return@requestIfNoPermission
+
+                Toast.makeText(
+                    applicationContext,
+                    getString(R.string.command_permission_denied),
+                    Toast.LENGTH_SHORT
+                ).show()
+            }
+
+        }
+
         dashboardLauncher = registerForActivityResult(
             ActivityResultContracts.StartActivityForResult()
-        ) { result -> finish() } // TODO re-login here
+        ) { _ -> finish() } // TODO re-login here
 
         val executor = Executors.newSingleThreadExecutor()
         val cronetEngine = CronetEngine.Builder(baseContext).build()
@@ -94,7 +113,7 @@ class LoginActivity : ComponentActivity() {
             }
         }
 
-        lifecycleScope.launch { // TODO I was suggested not to launch an activity from a lifecyclescope
+        lifecycleScope.launch { // TODO I was suggested not to launch an activity from a lifecycle scope
             loginViewModel.uiState.collect { state ->
                 if (state is LoginUiState.Success) {
                     loadApp(state.user)
@@ -134,12 +153,11 @@ class LoginActivity : ComponentActivity() {
 
 @Composable
 fun LoginApp(loginViewModel: LoginViewModel) {
-    val coroutineScope = rememberCoroutineScope()
     val uiState by loginViewModel.uiState.collectAsState()
-    val loginErrorMessage by loginViewModel.error.observeAsState() // TODO put this in uistate
+    val loginErrorMessage by loginViewModel.error.observeAsState() // TODO put this in uiState
     val isIdle by remember(uiState) { derivedStateOf { uiState !is LoginUiState.Loading } }
 
-    var apiKey by rememberSaveable { mutableStateOf(BuildConfig.VASTAI_KEY ?: "") }
+    var apiKey by rememberSaveable { mutableStateOf(BuildConfig.VASTAI_KEY) }
     var advancedOpen by rememberSaveable { mutableStateOf(false) }
 
     val transition = updateTransition(targetState = advancedOpen, label = "Advanced Menu Transition")
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 335a976..87bb00f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -20,4 +20,6 @@
     <string name="login_checkbox_20">having fun?</string>
     <string name="login_checkbox_angry">checkbox is angry</string>
     <string name="no_options">none yet sorry</string>
+    <string name="command_permission_denied">If you change your mind, do so from settings</string>
+    <string name="no_termux">Termuxn\'t</string>
 </resources>
\ No newline at end of file