diff --git a/initialize.py b/initialize.py
index 5aa904942..2e452d5f1 100644
--- a/initialize.py
+++ b/initialize.py
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ def initialize():
         chat_model = chat_llm,
         utility_model = utility_llm,
         embeddings_model = embedding_llm,
-        prompts_subdir = "custom",
+        # prompts_subdir = "",
         # memory_subdir = "",
+        # knowledge_subdir: str = ""
         auto_memory_count = 0,
         # auto_memory_skip = 2,
         # rate_limit_seconds = 60,
diff --git a/memory/.gitkeep b/memory/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/python/helpers/vector_db.py b/python/helpers/vector_db.py
index 0b712cdc6..9fac3093a 100644
--- a/python/helpers/vector_db.py
+++ b/python/helpers/vector_db.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class VectorDB:
 
         
         # if db folder exists and is not empty:
-        if os.path.exists(self.db_dir) and len(os.listdir(self.db_dir)) > 0:
+        if os.path.exists(self.db_dir) and files.exists(self.db_dir,"index.faiss"):
             self.db = FAISS.load_local(
                 folder_path=self.db_dir,
                 embeddings=self.embedder,