diff --git a/installer b/installer
index 1a50f8e..8e69a3e 100755
--- a/installer
+++ b/installer
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # AIF, Calamares, and the Arch Wiki.. Credit where credit is due
 
 # shellcheck disable=2086,2046,2254,2164,2030,2031,2001
-VER=2.19
+VER=2.20
 
 # default values {
 
@@ -1796,6 +1796,8 @@ install_base()
 		unset BG_PID
 	fi
 
+	install_check_base
+
 	mkdir -pv "$MNT/etc/default"
 
 	if [[ $DIST == "ArchLabs" ]]; then
@@ -2115,6 +2117,7 @@ install_packages()
 	[[ $NEWSHELL =~ (bash|zsh) ]] && inpkg+=('bash-completion')
 	[[ $INSTALL_WMS =~ dwm ]] && inpkg+=('git' 'make' 'gcc' 'pkgconf')
 
+
 	# remove the packages we don't want on the installed system
 	[[ ${rmpkg[*]} ]] && chrun "pacman -Rnsc ${rmpkg[*]} --noconfirm"
 
@@ -2203,6 +2206,52 @@ install_packages()
 	return 0
 }
 
+install_check_bg()
+{
+	# check for errors in the background install
+	[[ -e $MNT/bin/bash ]] && return
+
+	local luks='' key="9E4F11C6A072942A7B3FD3B0B81EB14A09A25EB0"
+
+	[[ $LUKS ]] && luks='cryptsetup'
+
+	# select_mirrors || AUTO_MIRROR=true
+	# install_mirrorlist > /tmp/bgout 2>&1
+	# al_repo "/etc/pacman.conf"
+
+	{
+		pacman -Syy
+		pacman -S archlinux-keyring --noconfirm
+		pacstrap /mnt base rsync
+	} >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
+
+	cp -Rf /etc/pacman.d "$MNT/etc/"
+	cp -f /etc/pacman.conf "$MNT/etc/"
+	cp -f /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist "$MNT/etc/pacman.d/"
+	al_repo "$MNT/etc/pacman.conf"
+	{
+		chrun "pacman -Syyu --noconfirm"
+		if ! pacman-key --list-keys | grep -q "$key"; then
+			chrun "pacman-key --recv-keys '$key'"
+			chrun "pacman-key --finger '$key'"
+			chrun "pacman-key --lsign-key '$key'"
+		fi
+		chrun "pacman -S archlinux-keyring archlabs-keyring --noconfirm"
+		chrun "pacman -S ${ISO_PKGS[*]} $luks $NET_TYPE --noconfirm --needed"
+
+	} >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
+
+	if [[ $NET_TYPE == 'networkmanager' ]]; then
+		chrun 'systemctl enable NetworkManager.service' >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
+	else
+		chrun 'systemctl enable iwd.service' >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
+	fi
+
+	if [[ -e /tmp/wmlist ]]; then
+		chrun "pacman -S ${BASE_PKGS[*]} $(cat /tmp/wmlist) --noconfirm --needed" >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
+	fi
+}
+
 install_suckless()
 {
 	local dir="$1/suckless"
@@ -2360,8 +2409,11 @@ install_background()
 	(
 		install_mirrorlist > /tmp/bgout 2>&1
 		al_repo "/etc/pacman.conf"
-		pacman -Syy >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
-		pacstrap /mnt base rsync >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
+		{
+			pacman -Syy
+			pacman -S archlinux-keyring --noconfirm
+			pacstrap /mnt base rsync
+		} >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
 
 		cp -Rf /etc/pacman.d "$MNT/etc/"
 		cp -f /etc/pacman.conf "$MNT/etc/"
@@ -2385,9 +2437,8 @@ install_background()
 			chrun 'systemctl enable iwd.service' >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
 		fi
 
-		if [[ -e /tmp/wmlist ]]; then
-			chrun "pacman -S ${BASE_PKGS[*]} --noconfirm --needed" >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
-		fi
+		[[ -e /tmp/wmlist ]] &&
+			chrun "pacman -S ${BASE_PKGS[*]} $(cat /tmp/wmlist) --noconfirm --needed" >> /tmp/bgout 2>&1
 	) &
 
 	BG_PID=$!
@@ -2395,6 +2446,7 @@ install_background()
 	trap "kill $BG_PID 2> /dev/null; tput cnorm" EXIT
 }
 
+
 ###############################################################################
 # display manager config
 # these are called based on which DM is chosen after it is installed