diff --git a/lua/harpoon/init.lua b/lua/harpoon/init.lua
index da7d550..99545d5 100644
--- a/lua/harpoon/init.lua
+++ b/lua/harpoon/init.lua
@@ -30,21 +30,48 @@ local M = {}
 --]]
 harpoon_config = harpoon_config or {}
 
+-- tbl_deep_extend does not work the way you would think
+function merge_table_impl(t1, t2)
+    for k, v in pairs(t2) do
+        if type(v) == "table" then
+            if type(t1[k]) == "table" then
+                merge_table_impl(t1[k], v)
+            else
+                t1[k] = v
+            end
+        else
+            t1[k] = v
+        end
+    end
+end
+
+function merge_tables(...) 
+    local out = {}
+    for i = 2, select("#",...) do
+        merge_table_impl(out, select(i, ...))
+    end
+    return out
+end
+
 function ensure_correct_config(config) 
     local projects = config.projects
     if projects[cwd] == nil then
         projects[cwd] = {
-            marks = {},
-            term = {},
+            mark = {
+                marks = {}
+            },
+            term = {
+                cmds = {}
+            },
         }
     end
 
-    if projects[cwd].marks == nil then
-        projects[cwd].marks = {}
+    if projects[cwd].mark == nil then
+        projects[cwd].mark = {marks = {}}
     end
 
     if projects[cwd].term == nil then
-        projects[cwd].term = {}
+        projects[cwd].term = {cmds = {}}
     end
 end
 
@@ -95,7 +122,7 @@ M.setup = function(config)
     end
 
     local complete_config = 
-        vim.tbl_deep_extend("force", 
+        merge_tables(
             {projects = {}}, 
             expand_dir(c_config), 
             expand_dir(u_config),
@@ -110,5 +137,13 @@ M.setup = function(config)
     harpoon_config = complete_config
 end
 
+-- should only be called for debug purposes
+M.print_config = function() 
+    print(vim.inspect(harpoon_config))
+end
+
+-- Sets a default config with no values
+M.setup({projects = {}})
+
 return M
 
diff --git a/plugin/manage-a-mark.vim b/plugin/manage-a-mark.vim
deleted file mode 100644
index 25ccea4..0000000
--- a/plugin/manage-a-mark.vim
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,5 +0,0 @@
-augroup THE_PRIMEAGEN_HARPOON
-    autocmd!
-    autocmd VimLeave * :lua require('harpoon').save()
-    autocmd BufLeave * :lua require('harpoon.mark').store_offset()
-augroup END
diff --git a/plugin/mark.vim b/plugin/mark.vim
index 25ccea4..ad61764 100644
--- a/plugin/mark.vim
+++ b/plugin/mark.vim
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 augroup THE_PRIMEAGEN_HARPOON
     autocmd!
-    autocmd VimLeave * :lua require('harpoon').save()
+    autocmd VimLeavePre * :lua require('harpoon').save()
     autocmd BufLeave * :lua require('harpoon.mark').store_offset()
 augroup END