diff --git a/database.py b/database.py
index c4a25d5..7df60dc 100644
--- a/database.py
+++ b/database.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ lastsync = 0
 ### symmetric keys are fine for now since we hopefully use HTTPS
 def loadAPIkeys():
 	global clients
+	createTSV("clients/authenticated_machines.tsv")
 	clients = parseTSV("clients/authenticated_machines.tsv","string","string")
 
 def checkAPIkey(k):
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 0be14c9..ff413eb 100755
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -37,18 +37,20 @@ def database_get(pth):
 	
 @post("/db/<pth:path>")
 def database_post(pth):
+	response.set_header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin","*")
 	try:
 		proxyresponse = urllib.request.urlopen("http://localhost:" + str(DATABASE_PORT) + "/" + pth,request.body)
 		contents = proxyresponse.read()
 		response.status = proxyresponse.getcode()
+		response.content_type = "application/json"
+		return contents
 	except HTTPError as e:
-		contents = ""
 		response.status = e.code
+		return
 		
-		
-	response.content_type = "application/json"
-	response.set_header("Access-Control-Allow-Origin","*")
-	return contents
+	
+	
+	return
 
 @route("/exit")
 def shutdown():
diff --git a/utilities.py b/utilities.py
index b3a3f7a..77c9094 100644
--- a/utilities.py
+++ b/utilities.py
@@ -50,3 +50,9 @@ def parseAllTSV(path,*args):
 			
 	return result
 	
+def createTSV(filename):
+	import os
+	
+	if not os.path.exists(filename):
+		open(filename,"w").close()
+