     atom.config.set 'wakatime.apikey', '' # clear setting so it updates in UI
     atom.config.set 'wakatime.apikey', 'Saved in your ~/.wakatime.cfg file'
     saveApiKey apiKey
+  else if initial
+    atom.config.set 'wakatime.apikey', '' # clear setting so it updates in UI
+    atom.config.set 'wakatime.apikey', 'Enter your api key...'
 
 saveApiKey = (apiKey) ->
   configFile = path.join getUserHome(), '.wakatime.cfg'

  statusBarIcon?.setStatus()
  log.debug 'Finished initializing WakaTime.'

settingChangedHandler = (settings) ->
  if settings.showStatusBarIcon
    statusBarIcon?.show()
  else

  fs.readFile configFile, 'utf-8', (err, configContent) ->
    if err?
      log.debug 'Error: could not read wakatime config file'
      settingChangedHandler atom.config.get('wakatime'), true
      return
    commonConfigs = ini.decode configContent
    if commonConfigs? and commonConfigs.settings? and isValidApiKey(commonConfigs.settings.api_key)
      atom.config.set 'wakatime.apikey', '' # clear setting so it updates in UI
      atom.config.set 'wakatime.apikey', 'Saved in your ~/.wakatime.cfg file'
    else
      settingChangedHandler atom.config.get('wakatime'), true

isValidApiKey = (key) ->
  if not key?
