diff --git a/do-plication b/do-plication
index 65b655d..cffa15d 100755
--- a/do-plication
+++ b/do-plication
@@ -24,8 +24,8 @@ fi
 
 if [ "$2" = "-e" ]
     then 
-        ls "$4" > /dev/null
-        if [$? -gt 0]
+        sudo ls "$4" > /dev/null
+        if [$? -gt 1]
             then 
                 echo "key not fount creating key"
                 sudo stenc -g 256 -k "$5" -kd "$6";