diff --git a/dzgui/init/dayz.py b/dzgui/init/dayz.py
index cc6f2c4..032179e 100644
--- a/dzgui/init/dayz.py
+++ b/dzgui/init/dayz.py
@@ -20,5 +20,4 @@ def is_dayz_installed(config: Path) -> None:
         PeFile.get_app_path(Path(path) / LIBRARYFOLDERS_PATH, APPID_DAYZ)
     except Exception as e:
         logger.critical(e)
-        EarlyAlertDialog(dayz_not_found)
-        sys.exit(1)
+        raise e
diff --git a/dzgui/main.py b/dzgui/main.py
index 45edf9d..7a05637 100644
--- a/dzgui/main.py
+++ b/dzgui/main.py
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ from dzgui.const.enum import Preferences
 from dzgui.config.query import lookup
 from dzgui.config.userprefs import UserPrefs
 from dzgui.config.xdg import get_xdg_paths, parse_filepaths
-from dzgui.init.dayz import is_dayz_installed
 from dzgui.init.flock import lock_acquire
 from dzgui.init.migrate import (
     has_new_config,
@@ -124,18 +123,9 @@ def main() -> None:
         if has_steam_client() is False:
             EarlyAlertDialog(init.requires_steam)
 
-    is_dayz_installed(XDG.config)
-
     bootwin = BootWindow(XDG, version)
     local_coords, latest_release = bootwin.get_results()
 
-    # rebuild_symlinks(XDG.config)
-    # remove_stale_signatures(XDG.config, XDG.version)
-
-    ## TODO: handle IP DB failure and use coords fallback
-    # local_coords = get_local_coords(XDG.ips)
-    # latest_release = check_updates(version)
-
     use_miles = lookup(XDG.config, Preferences.DIST)
     prefs = UserPrefs(
         is_steam_deck=_is_steam_deck,
diff --git a/dzgui/managers/offline.py b/dzgui/managers/offline.py
index 4e14e5a..f014b5b 100644
--- a/dzgui/managers/offline.py
+++ b/dzgui/managers/offline.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from dzgui.api.mods import get_custom_mods
 from dzgui.api.steam import launch_offline
 from dzgui.const.enum import Preferences
 from dzgui.managers.threading import call_on_thread, StoredFunc, ThreadingManager
-from dzgui.model.model_factory import FastInsertListStore, ModelFactory
+from dzgui.model.model_factory import ModelFactory
 from dzgui.strings import dialogs
 from dzgui.util.symlink import clone_symlinks
 
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class OfflineManager:
 
     # TODO: strings
     @call_on_thread("parsing")
-    def parse_custom_mods(self, local_mods: list[str], folder: str) -> "FastInsertListStore":
+    def parse_custom_mods(self, local_mods: list[str], folder: str) -> None:
         mods = get_custom_mods(Path(folder))
         store = ModelFactory().make_mod_store()
         store.extend(mods)
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ class OfflineManager:
 
         func = StoredFunc(self.emitter.emit, "custom_mods_loaded", store, folder, has_duplicates)
         self.thread_man.set_cleanup_func(func)
-        # TODO: return store from cleanup function
 
     def setup(
         self,
diff --git a/dzgui/strings/errors.py b/dzgui/strings/errors.py
index 3ee54d6..005a93b 100644
--- a/dzgui/strings/errors.py
+++ b/dzgui/strings/errors.py
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@ api_validation_error = (
 )
 
 api_popover = "API key validation failed."
-dayz_not_found = "Could not find DayZ and/or Steam: are they installed?"
+dayz_not_found = "Could not find a valid DayZ installation."
diff --git a/dzgui/strings/preboot.py b/dzgui/strings/preboot.py
index 01a7ad6..69fffe2 100644
--- a/dzgui/strings/preboot.py
+++ b/dzgui/strings/preboot.py
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ signatures = "Updating mod signatures"
 geo = "Checking geolocation records"
 coords = "Checking local coordinates"
 updates = "Checking for updates"
+dayz = "Looking for DayZ"
diff --git a/dzgui/views/dialogs/boot.py b/dzgui/views/dialogs/boot.py
index 4dc5821..885aa57 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/dialogs/boot.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/dialogs/boot.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from dzgui.api.mods import remove_stale_signatures as remove_stale
 from dzgui.config.ipdb import get_ipdb
 from dzgui.const.constants import HEX_GREEN, HEX_RED
 from dzgui.init.coords import get_local_coords
+from dzgui.init.dayz import is_dayz_installed
 from dzgui.init.update import check_updates
 from dzgui.const.constants import EXPAND, FILL
 from dzgui.managers.threading import call_on_thread, StoredFunc, ThreadingManager
@@ -119,6 +120,7 @@ class BootDialog(Gtk.Dialog):
         self.error_box.hide()
 
         steps = [
+            (StoredFunc(is_dayz_installed, self.xdg.config), preboot.dayz, False),
             (StoredFunc(rebuild_symlinks, self.xdg.config), preboot.symlinks, False),
             (
                 StoredFunc(remove_stale, self.xdg.config, self.xdg.version),
@@ -126,6 +128,7 @@ class BootDialog(Gtk.Dialog):
                 False,
             ),
             (StoredFunc(get_ipdb, self.xdg.ips), preboot.geo, False),
+            # TODO: handle IP DB failure and use coords fallback
             (StoredFunc(get_local_coords, self.xdg.ips), preboot.coords, True),
             (StoredFunc(check_updates, self.version), preboot.updates, True),
         ]
diff --git a/dzgui/views/pages/offline.py b/dzgui/views/pages/offline.py
index 17f6770..8ab1633 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/pages/offline.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/pages/offline.py
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class OfflineLoader(Gtk.Box):
         self.add(PageHeading(offline.heading))
 
         self.local_frame = ModFrame(controller, offline.local_frame)
-        self.custom_frame = CustomModFrame(controller, offline.custom_frame)
+        self.custom_frame = CustomModFrame(self, controller, offline.custom_frame)
 
         # TODO: suppress symlink column
         self.custom_tree = OfflineModTreeView(controller)