diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6a9cfda..2946b35 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -91,20 +91,29 @@ options:
 
 ## Using an existing Reticulum Identity
 
-By default, a random identity is generated every time you run the script.
+The first time you run this application, a new Reticulum identity is generated and saved to `storage/identity`.
 
-This is handy for quickly testing out the web ui, however you may want to use an existing identity when chatting with others.
+If you want to use an existing identity;
 
-To generate a new identity, you can use the [rnid](https://reticulum.network/manual/using.html#the-rnid-utility) utility provided by Reticulum.
+- You can overwrite `storage/identity` with another identity file.
+- Or, you can pass in a custom identity file path as a command line argument.
+
+To use a custom identity file, provide the `--identity-file` argument followed by the path to your custom identity file.
 
 ```
-rnid --generate ./new_identity
+python web.py --identity-file ./custom_identity_file
 ```
 
-You can then use the following to run the web ui with your new identity file;
+If you would like to generate a new identity, you can use the [rnid](https://reticulum.network/manual/using.html#the-rnid-utility) utility provided by Reticulum.
 
 ```
-python web.py --identity-file ./new_identity
+rnid --generate ./new_identity_file
+```
+
+If you don't have access to the `rnid` command, you can use the following:
+
+```
+python web.py --generate-identity-file ./new_identity_file
 ```
 
 Alternatively, you can provide a base64 encoded private key, like so;
diff --git a/web.py b/web.py
index 23fb349..18d0c1d 100644
--- a/web.py
+++ b/web.py
@@ -1366,14 +1366,27 @@ def main():
     if args.identity_file is not None:
         identity = RNS.Identity(create_keys=False)
         identity.load(args.identity_file)
-        print("Reticulum Identity <{}> has been loaded from file.".format(identity.hash.hex()))
+        print("Reticulum Identity <{}> has been loaded from file {}.".format(identity.hash.hex(), args.identity_file))
     elif args.identity_base64 is not None:
         identity = RNS.Identity(create_keys=False)
         identity.load_private_key(base64.b64decode(args.identity_base64))
         print("Reticulum Identity <{}> has been loaded from base64.".format(identity.hash.hex()))
     else:
-        identity = RNS.Identity(create_keys=True)
-        print("Reticulum Identity <{}> has been randomly generated.".format(identity.hash.hex()))
+
+        # configure path to default identity file
+        default_identity_file = os.path.join("storage", "identity")
+
+        # if default identity file does not exist, generate a new identity and save it
+        if not os.path.exists(default_identity_file):
+            identity = RNS.Identity(create_keys=True)
+            with open(default_identity_file, "wb") as file:
+                file.write(identity.get_private_key())
+            print("Reticulum Identity <{}> has been randomly generated and saved to {}.".format(identity.hash.hex(), default_identity_file))
+
+        # default identity file exists, load it
+        identity = RNS.Identity(create_keys=False)
+        identity.load(default_identity_file)
+        print("Reticulum Identity <{}> has been loaded from file.".format(identity.hash.hex()))
 
     # init app
     reticulum_webchat = ReticulumWebChat(identity, args.storage_dir, args.reticulum_config_dir)