diff --git a/scripts/reboot.sh b/scripts/reboot.sh
index 1b852aa8..82c60a1f 100755
--- a/scripts/reboot.sh
+++ b/scripts/reboot.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-if [ -f "$HOME/.zsh_history "] ; then
+if [ -f "$HOME/.zsh_history " ] ; then
     rm "$HOME/.zsh_history"
 fi
 
diff --git a/scripts/shutdown.sh b/scripts/shutdown.sh
index c0180ec3..b9adad56 100755
--- a/scripts/shutdown.sh
+++ b/scripts/shutdown.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-if [ -f "$HOME/.zsh_history "] ; then
+if [ -f "$HOME/.zsh_history " ] ; then
     rm "$HOME/.zsh_history"
 fi
 
diff --git a/zshrc.txt b/zshrc.txt
index 4a2ffbdd..2c341360 100644
--- a/zshrc.txt
+++ b/zshrc.txt
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 # ~/.zshrc
 #
 # to change default shell, use chsh -s $(which zsh)
+
+# creates a zsh_history file on startup
+touch $HOME/.zsh_history
 #
 # create custom env variables:
-#
 export cproj="/home/brian/Documents/Code/source_code_to_study/sandbox/msh"
 # custom BROWSER env for ddgr:
 export BROWSER=links