diff --git a/js/kiri-lang.js b/js/kiri-lang.js
index 7a8f584c..21d39bb1 100644
--- a/js/kiri-lang.js
+++ b/js/kiri-lang.js
@@ -425,12 +425,6 @@ let gs_kiri_lang = exports;
         ag_paws_l:      "comma-separated list of layers\nto inject pause commands before"
     };
 
-    LANG['test'] = { bogus: "not a valid key" };
-
-    Object.keys(LANG.en).forEach(key => {
-        LANG.test[key] = `*${LANG.en[key]}*`;
-    });
-
     LANG.current = {};
 
     LANG.set(lset, lset.split('-')[0]);
diff --git a/js/kiri.js b/js/kiri.js
index cb4643d8..a2240d95 100644
--- a/js/kiri.js
+++ b/js/kiri.js
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ self.kiri.license = exports.LICENSE;
         camStock = null,
         camTopZ = 0,
         topZ = 0,
-        showFavorites = SDB['dev-favorites'] === 'true';
+        showFavorites = SDB['dev-favorites'] === 'true',
+        alerts = [];
 
     // seed defaults. will get culled on save
     settings.sproc.FDM.default = clone(settings.process);
@@ -80,11 +81,6 @@ self.kiri.license = exports.LICENSE;
 
     DBUG.enable();
 
-    if (SETUP.rm) renderMode = parseInt(SETUP.rm[0]);
-    if (SETUP.ln) KIRI.lang.set(SETUP.ln[0]);
-
-    let alerts = [ [ `${LANG.version} ${KIRI.version}`, Date.now() ] ];
-
     // add show() to catalog for API
     CATALOG.show = showCatalog;
 
@@ -187,6 +183,7 @@ self.kiri.license = exports.LICENSE;
         hide: {
             import: function() { UI.import.style.display = 'none' }
         },
+        language: KIRI.lang,
         modal: {
             show: showModal,
             hide: hideModal,
@@ -335,6 +332,10 @@ self.kiri.license = exports.LICENSE;
          while (alerts.length > 5) {
              alerts.shift();
          }
+         // return if called before UI configured
+         if (!UI.alert) {
+             return;
+         }
          if (alerts.length > 0) {
              UI.alert.text.innerHTML = alerts.map(v => ['<p>',v[0],'</p>'].join('')).join('');
              UI.alert.dialog.style.display = 'flex';
@@ -1822,4 +1823,11 @@ self.kiri.license = exports.LICENSE;
         kirimod.forEach(function(mod) { mod(kiri.api) });
     }
 
+    // allow language modules to load first
+    if (SETUP.ln) KIRI.lang.set(SETUP.ln[0]);
+    if (SETUP.rm) renderMode = parseInt(SETUP.rm[0]);
+
+    // show version on startup
+    API.show.alert(`${LANG.version} ${KIRI.version}`);
+
 })();