diff --git a/bash_functions.sh b/bash_functions.sh
index 80c7f97..60469b1 100644
--- a/bash_functions.sh
+++ b/bash_functions.sh
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 . /opt/pihole/webpage.sh
 
+prepare_setup_vars() {
+    touch $setupVars
+}
+
 validate_env() {
     if [ -z "$ServerIP" ] ; then
       echo "ERROR: To function correctly you must pass an environment variables of 'ServerIP' into the docker container with the IP of your docker host from which you are passing web (80) and dns (53) ports from"
diff --git a/start.sh b/start.sh
index c2af174..7ee7701 100755
--- a/start.sh
+++ b/start.sh
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ export IPv6
 
 echo " ::: Starting docker specific setup for docker diginc/pi-hole"
 validate_env
+prepare_setup_vars
 change_setting "IPV4_ADDRESS" "$ServerIP"
 change_setting "IPV6_ADDRESS" "$ServerIPv6"
 setup_dnsmasq_dns "$DNS1" "$DNS2"