diff --git a/install b/install
index c3976f2..ff77fde 100755
--- a/install
+++ b/install
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 DIR=$(dirname $0)
+PROGRAM=$HOME/.local/bin/comfortable-swipe
 
 if [ -x "$(command -v git)" ]; then
     # stop any running comfortable-swipe if it exists
-    comfortable-swipe stop
+    $PROGRAM stop
 fi
 
 #copy config file
@@ -29,5 +30,10 @@ else
 fi
 echo "Installing..."
 mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
-g++ -std=c++11 -O2 $DIR/src/comfortable-swipe.cpp -lxdo -o $HOME/.local/bin/comfortable-swipe || exec echo "Installation aborted"
+g++ -std=c++11 -O2 $DIR/src/comfortable-swipe.cpp -lxdo -o $PROGRAM || exec echo "Installation aborted"
+
+# toggle autostart twice to refresh any changes
+$PROGRAM autostart > /dev/null || exec echo "Installation aborted"
+$PROGRAM autostart > /dev/null || exec echo "Installation aborted"
+
 echo "Successfully installed. You may now run 'comfortable-swipe start'."
diff --git a/src/comfortable-swipe.cpp b/src/comfortable-swipe.cpp
index 898d043..9db210f 100644
--- a/src/comfortable-swipe.cpp
+++ b/src/comfortable-swipe.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 #include <ctime>
 #include <unistd.h>
 #define cstr const string&
+#define PROGRAM "$HOME/.local/bin/comfortable-swipe"
 using namespace std;
 
 extern "C" {
@@ -267,7 +268,7 @@ namespace service {
     }
     // starts service
     void start() {
-        int x = system("stdbuf -oL -eL libinput-debug-events | $HOME/.local/bin/comfortable-swipe buffer");
+        int x = system("stdbuf -oL -eL libinput-debug-events | " PROGRAM " buffer");
     }
     // stops service
     void stop() {
@@ -316,7 +317,7 @@ namespace service {
                 fout <<
                     "[Desktop Entry]\n"
                     "Type=Application\n"
-                    "Exec=comfortable-swipe start\n"
+                    "Exec=bash -c \"" PROGRAM " start\"\n"
                     "Hidden=false\n"
                     "NoDisplay=false\n"
                     "X-GNOME-Autostart-enabled=true\n"