diff --git a/src/config-yaml.ts b/src/config-yaml.ts
index 13e6a06..0ea836c 100644
--- a/src/config-yaml.ts
+++ b/src/config-yaml.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
-import { readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'fs'
+import { existsSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'fs'
 import { dump, FAILSAFE_SCHEMA, load } from 'js-yaml'
 import { getPath } from './path'
 
+export function configYamlExists(): boolean {
+  return existsSync(getPath('config.yaml'))
+}
+
 export function readConfigYaml(): Record<string, unknown> {
   const raw = readFileSync(getPath('config.yaml'), 'utf-8')
   const data = load(raw, {
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 363b8be..81f5e85 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@ import { ensureApiKey } from './api-key'
 // @ts-ignore
 import squirrelInstallingExecution from 'electron-squirrel-startup'
 import { initSplash } from './splash'
+import { configYamlExists, readConfigYaml, writeConfigYaml } from './config-yaml'
+
+// TODO: remove this after 1.0.0 release
+// this is a migration path for pioneers
+// who helped testing the early versions
+if (configYamlExists() && !readConfigYaml().password) writeConfigYaml({ password: 'Test' })
 
 if (squirrelInstallingExecution) {
   app.quit()