diff --git a/meshchatx/meshchat.py b/meshchatx/meshchat.py
index 01c54b4..40648ab 100644
--- a/meshchatx/meshchat.py
+++ b/meshchatx/meshchat.py
@@ -556,6 +556,152 @@ class ReticulumMeshChat:
             raise RuntimeError("Database not initialized")
         return self.database.restore_database(backup_path)
 
+    def _ensure_reticulum_config(self):
+        """Ensures that a valid Reticulum config file exists at the expected location.
+        If the config is missing or invalid, it creates a sane default one.
+        """
+        config_dir = self.reticulum_config_dir or RNS.Reticulum.configpath
+        config_file = os.path.join(config_dir, "config")
+
+        should_recreate = False
+
+        if not os.path.exists(config_file):
+            should_recreate = True
+            print(
+                f"Reticulum config file not found at {config_file}, creating a default one...",
+            )
+        else:
+            try:
+                with open(config_file) as f:
+                    content = f.read()
+                    if "[reticulum]" not in content or "[interfaces]" not in content:
+                        print(
+                            f"Reticulum config file at {config_file} is invalid (missing essential sections), recreating...",
+                        )
+                        should_recreate = True
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(
+                    f"Failed to read Reticulum config at {config_file} ({e}), recreating...",
+                )
+                should_recreate = True
+
+        if should_recreate:
+            try:
+                if not os.path.exists(config_dir):
+                    os.makedirs(config_dir, exist_ok=True)
+
+                default_config = """# This is the default Reticulum config file.
+# You should probably edit it to include any additional,
+# interfaces and settings you might need.
+
+# Only the most basic options are included in this default
+# configuration. To see a more verbose, and much longer,
+# configuration example, you can run the command:
+# rnsd --exampleconfig
+
+
+[reticulum]
+  
+  # If you enable Transport, your system will route traffic
+  # for other peers, pass announces and serve path requests.
+  # This should only be done for systems that are suited to
+  # act as transport nodes, ie. if they are stationary and
+  # always-on. This directive is optional and can be removed
+  # for brevity.
+  
+  enable_transport = False
+  
+  
+  # By default, the first program to launch the Reticulum
+  # Network Stack will create a shared instance, that other
+  # programs can communicate with. Only the shared instance
+  # opens all the configured interfaces directly, and other
+  # local programs communicate with the shared instance over
+  # a local socket. This is completely transparent to the
+  # user, and should generally be turned on. This directive
+  # is optional and can be removed for brevity.
+  
+  share_instance = Yes
+  
+  
+  # If you want to run multiple *different* shared instances
+  # on the same system, you will need to specify different
+  # instance names for each. On platforms supporting domain
+  # sockets, this can be done with the instance_name option:
+  
+  instance_name = default
+  discover_interfaces = True
+  autoconnect_discovered_interfaces = 3
+  required_discovery_value = 16
+
+# Some platforms don't support domain sockets, and if that
+# is the case, you can isolate different instances by
+# specifying a unique set of ports for each:
+
+# shared_instance_port = 37428
+# instance_control_port = 37429
+
+
+# If you want to explicitly use TCP for shared instance
+# communication, instead of domain sockets, this is also
+# possible, by using the following option:
+
+# shared_instance_type = tcp
+
+
+# You can configure Reticulum to panic and forcibly close
+# if an unrecoverable interface error occurs, such as the
+# hardware device for an interface disappearing. This is
+# an optional directive, and can be left out for brevity.
+# This behaviour is disabled by default.
+
+# panic_on_interface_error = No
+
+
+[logging]
+  # Valid log levels are 0 through 7:
+  #   0: Log only critical information
+  #   1: Log errors and lower log levels
+  #   2: Log warnings and lower log levels
+  #   3: Log notices and lower log levels
+  #   4: Log info and lower (this is the default)
+  #   5: Verbose logging
+  #   6: Debug logging
+  #   7: Extreme logging
+  
+  loglevel = 4
+
+
+# The interfaces section defines the physical and virtual
+# interfaces Reticulum will use to communicate on. This
+# section will contain examples for a variety of interface
+# types. You can modify these or use them as a basis for
+# your own config, or simply remove the unused ones.
+
+[interfaces]
+  
+  # This interface enables communication with other
+  # link-local Reticulum nodes over UDP. It does not
+  # need any functional IP infrastructure like routers
+  # or DHCP servers, but will require that at least link-
+  # local IPv6 is enabled in your operating system, which
+  # should be enabled by default in almost any OS. See
+  # the Reticulum Manual for more configuration options.
+  
+  [[Default Interface]]
+    type = AutoInterface
+    enabled = false
+    name = Default Interface
+    selected_interface_mode = 1
+"""
+                with open(config_file, "w") as f:
+                    f.write(default_config)
+                print(f"Default Reticulum config created at {config_file}")
+            except Exception as e:
+                print(
+                    f"Failed to create default Reticulum config at {config_file}: {e}",
+                )
+
     def setup_identity(self, identity: RNS.Identity):
         identity_hash = identity.hash.hex()
 
@@ -574,6 +720,7 @@ class ReticulumMeshChat:
 
         # Initialize Reticulum if not already done
         if not hasattr(self, "reticulum"):
+            self._ensure_reticulum_config()
             self.reticulum = RNS.Reticulum(self.reticulum_config_dir)
 
         # Create new context