diff --git a/alternative_wmiircs/plan9port/wmiirc b/alternative_wmiircs/plan9port/wmiirc
index ebef8ed4..ee89608e 100755
--- a/alternative_wmiircs/plan9port/wmiirc
+++ b/alternative_wmiircs/plan9port/wmiirc
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ oldpath=$path; path=($PLAN9/bin $path)
 # WMII Configuration
 
 # Keys
-MODKEY=Mod1
+MODKEY=Mod4
 UP=k
 DOWN=j
 LEFT=h
diff --git a/alternative_wmiircs/ruby/config.yaml b/alternative_wmiircs/ruby/config.yaml
index e5ab63e6..9872561b 100644
--- a/alternative_wmiircs/ruby/config.yaml
+++ b/alternative_wmiircs/ruby/config.yaml
@@ -137,12 +137,12 @@ control:
   ##
   # The wmii "grabmod" setting.
   #
-  grab: Mod1
+  grab: Mod4
 
   ##
   # Prefix for all shortcuts.
   #
-  mod: Mod1
+  mod: Mod4
 
   ##
   # Direction keys.
diff --git a/rc/wmiirc.sh b/rc/wmiirc.sh
index 380f2511..e164bd9b 100644
--- a/rc/wmiirc.sh
+++ b/rc/wmiirc.sh
@@ -3,8 +3,9 @@
 wmiiscript=wmiirc # For wmii.sh
 . wmii.sh
 
+
 # Configuration Variables
-MODKEY=Mod1
+MODKEY=Mod4
 UP=k
 DOWN=j
 LEFT=h
@@ -24,6 +25,19 @@ export WMII_FONT='-*-fixed-medium-r-*-*-13-*-*-*-*-*-*-*'
 set -- $(echo $WMII_NORMCOLORS $WMII_FOCUSCOLORS)
 export WMII_TERM="@TERMINAL@"
 
+if ! test -d "${WMII_CONFPATH%%:*}"; then
+    mkdir "${WMII_CONFPATH%%:*}"
+    res=$(wihack -type DIALOG xmessage -nearmouse -buttons Windows,Alt -print -fn $WMII_FONT \
+          "Welcome to wmii,$wi_newline$wi_newline" \
+          "Most of wmii's default key bindings make use of the$wi_newline" \
+          "Windows key, or equivalent. For keyboards lacking such$wi_newline" \
+          "a key, many users change this to the Alt key.$wi_newline$wi_newline" \
+          "Which would you prefer?")
+    [ "$res" = "Alt" ] && MODKEY=Mod1
+    echo "MODKEY=$MODKEY" >"${WMII_CONFPATH%%:*}/wmiirc_local"
+    chmod +x "${WMII_CONFPATH%%:*}/wmiirc_local"
+fi
+
 # Menu history
 hist="${WMII_CONFPATH%%:*}/history"
 histnum=5000