diff --git a/mods/devel/kiri.js b/mods/devel/kiri.js
index 47ad33cb..514a25bb 100644
--- a/mods/devel/kiri.js
+++ b/mods/devel/kiri.js
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 // provides a device export to local disk option
 self.kiri.load(api => {
     api.event.on('load-done', () => {
-        let devwarn = api.sdb.kiri_dev;
-        if (location.host === 'dev.grid.space' && devwarn !== api.version) {
-            api.alerts.show('this is a development server', 10);
-            api.alerts.show('use <a href="https://grid.space/kiri">grid.space</a> for production', 10);
-            api.sdb.kiri_dev = api.version;
-        }
         let deviceExport = api.device.export;
         api.device.export = (exp, name, opt = {}) => {
             const { event, record } = opt;
diff --git a/src/kiri/app/init/sync.js b/src/kiri/app/init/sync.js
index fcf42801..2d34f670 100644
--- a/src/kiri/app/init/sync.js
+++ b/src/kiri/app/init/sync.js
@@ -115,6 +115,14 @@ export async function init_sync() {
         sdb.kiri_beta = beta;
     }
 
+    // warn users they are using a development server
+    let devwarn = sdb.kiri_dev;
+    if (location.host === 'dev.grid.space' && devwarn !== version) {
+        api.alerts.show('this is a development server', 10);
+        api.alerts.show('use <a href="https://grid.space/kiri">grid.space</a> for production', 10);
+        sdb.kiri_dev = version;
+    }
+
     // hide url params but preserve version root (when present)
     let wlp = WIN.location.pathname;
     let kio = wlp.indexOf('/kiri/');