diff --git a/main_form.cs b/main_form.cs
index cd5f136..689b7cc 100644
--- a/main_form.cs
+++ b/main_form.cs
@@ -71,12 +71,13 @@ namespace KRY_0x01_ng
         }
 
 
-        void check_key(TextBox tb_k)
+        bool check_key(TextBox tb_k)
         {
+            bool success = true;
             if (tb_k.Text.Length == 0)
             {
                 MessageBox.Show("Empty key.", "Warning");
-                return;
+                return success = false;
             }
             
             string str_to_check = String.Join("", tb_k.Text.ToUpper().Distinct());
@@ -84,20 +85,21 @@ namespace KRY_0x01_ng
             {
                 /* because why not, 8 is still lame */
                 MessageBox.Show($"The key is too short ({str_to_check.Length} characters).\nKey requirements: 9-25 unique alphabetic characters", "Error");
-                return;
+                return success = false;
             }
             else if (str_to_check.Length > 25)
             {
                 MessageBox.Show("The key is too long", "Warning");
-                return;
+                return success = false;
             }
 
             Match match = Regex.Match(str_to_check, @"\d|\s+");
             if (match.Success)
             {
                 MessageBox.Show("Only alphabetic characters and spaces are allowed.\nCheck the key for numbers, symbols or tab whitespace and remove them before continuing.", "Error");
-                return;
+                return success = false;
             }
+
             TextBox tb_pruned_k = textBox2;
             TextBox tb_nualph = textBox3;
             tb_pruned_k.Text = str_to_check;
@@ -110,8 +112,7 @@ namespace KRY_0x01_ng
             string nualph_str = str_to_check + transientalph_str;
             tb_nualph.Text = nualph_str;
             nualphabet = nualph_str.ToCharArray();
-            fill_array_table();
-            return;
+            return success;
         }
 
 
@@ -206,6 +207,13 @@ namespace KRY_0x01_ng
 
         void encrypt()
         {
+            bool cool = check_key(textBox1);
+            if (!cool)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+
+            fill_array_table();
             check_message(textBox4);
             prep_message(textBox5);
 
@@ -266,7 +274,7 @@ namespace KRY_0x01_ng
         private void button2_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
         {
             /* check key button */
-            check_key(textBox1);
+            bool cool = check_key(textBox1);
         }
     }
 }