diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 73744d0..78fde29 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -11,3 +11,4 @@ uv.lock
 .coverage
 pyapp-latest/
 dist/
+cpython
diff --git a/DEVELOPERS.md b/DEVELOPERS.md
index 1b79308..49f9e49 100644
--- a/DEVELOPERS.md
+++ b/DEVELOPERS.md
@@ -14,5 +14,10 @@ sphinx-build -M html source build -a
 
 # Building standalone DZGUI release binaries
 1. Run `./scripts/dl_pyapp.sh`
-2. Run `python3 scripts/release.py`
-3. Generate a release and tag against the bundled `dzgui` executable
+# TODO: secondary script that packs this archive
+2. Download cpython 3.13, linux, gnu, v3
+https://github.com/astral-sh/python-build-standalone/releases/download/20251014/cpython-3.13.9%2B20251014-x86_64_v3-unknown-linux-gnu-install_only_stripped.tar.gz
+3. Explicitly install dependencies into site-packages
+4. Pack back into a tarball
+5. Run `python3 scripts/release.py`
+6. Generate a release and tag against the bundled `dzgui` executable
diff --git a/dzgui/main.py b/dzgui/main.py
index cec454f..9ca1018 100644
--- a/dzgui/main.py
+++ b/dzgui/main.py
@@ -112,6 +112,9 @@ def main() -> None:
         copy_state_files(xdg_paths["XDG_STATE_HOME"])
         # TODO: add logging inside wizard
         SetupWizard(_is_steam_deck, XDG.config)
+
+    # NOTE: implies that setup wizard failed or was closed
+    if has_new_config(XDG.config) is False:
         return
 
     setup_logger(XDG.debug)
@@ -127,7 +130,7 @@ def main() -> None:
         if has_steam_client() is False:
             EarlyAlertDialog(init.requires_steam)
 
-    # NOTE: clear versions file of unlinked mods
+    # NOTE: clears versions file of unlinked mods
     rebuild_symlinks(XDG.config)
     remove_stale_signatures(XDG.config, XDG.version)
 
diff --git a/dzgui/managers/notes.py b/dzgui/managers/notes.py
index 73beaa6..8782fb4 100644
--- a/dzgui/managers/notes.py
+++ b/dzgui/managers/notes.py
@@ -20,7 +20,10 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(APP_NAME)
 class NoteManager:
     def __init__(self, controller: "Controller", path: "Path") -> None:
         self.notes_path = path
-        self.cache: dict[str, str] = read_json(self.notes_path)
+        try:
+            self.cache: dict[str, str] = read_json(self.notes_path)
+        except Exception:
+            self.cache = {}
 
     def add_note(self, server: str, note: str) -> None:
         self.cache[server] = note
diff --git a/dzgui/strings/wizard.py b/dzgui/strings/wizard.py
index 56c9053..2298155 100644
--- a/dzgui/strings/wizard.py
+++ b/dzgui/strings/wizard.py
@@ -67,4 +67,4 @@ label_client = "Steam client"
 
 ### Completion page
 heading_completion = "Setup complete"
-blurb_completion = "Configuration completed successfully. Please exit and restart DZGUI to apply changes."
+blurb_completion = "Configuration completed successfully. Click 'Close' to close this dialog and launch DZGUI."
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index c055619..d2bbd2b 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ description = "DayZ server browser and mod manager for Linux"
 authors = [
     {name = "aclist"}
 ]
-version = "7.0.0b2"
+version = "7.0.0b3"
 license = "GPL-3.0-or-later"
 license-files = ["LICENSE"]
 readme = "README.md"
diff --git a/scripts/release.py b/scripts/release.py
index e4768b2..a672f6d 100644
--- a/scripts/release.py
+++ b/scripts/release.py
@@ -26,9 +26,15 @@ env["PYAPP_PROJECT_VERSION"] = version
 env["PYAPP_PROJECT_NAME"] = appname
 env["PYAPP_EXEC_SPEC"] = entrypoint
 env["PYAPP_PROJECT_PATH"] = wheel
-env["PYAPP_DISTRIBUTION_EMBED"] = "true"
-env["PYAPP_PYTHON_VERSION"] = "3.13"
 env["PYAPP_PASS_LOCATION"] = "true"
+# env["PYAPP_PYTHON_VERSION"] = "3.13"
+
+# NOTE: explicitly install all dependencies into distribution
+env["PYAPP_SKIP_INSTALL"] = "true"
+env["PYAPP_DISTRIBUTION_EMBED"] = "true"
+env["PYAPP_FULL_ISOLATION"] = "true"
+env["PYAPP_DISTRIBUTION_PATH"] = "cpython/airgapped.tar.gz"
+env["PYAPP_DISTRIBUTION_PYTHON_PATH"] = "python/bin/python3"
 
 proc = subprocess.run(["cargo", "build", "--release"], env=env, cwd=pyapp_dir)
 if proc.returncode == 0: