diff --git a/lib/settings.py b/lib/settings.py
index f217336..cf2fc46 100644
--- a/lib/settings.py
+++ b/lib/settings.py
@@ -34,13 +34,21 @@ def get_bool(setting, default=False):
     with Prepare(setting) as (section, key):
         return config.getboolean(section, key, fallback=default)
 
+def __do_set(section, key, value):
+    if not config.has_section(section):
+        config.add_section(section)
+    config.set(section, key, str(value))
+    with data.DataFile(config_file, data.WRITE_TEXT) as f:
+        config.write(f.file)
+
 def set(setting, value):
     with Prepare(setting) as (section, key):
-        if not config.has_section(section):
-            config.add_section(section)
-        config.set(section, key, str(value))
-        with data.DataFile(config_file, data.WRITE_TEXT) as f:
-            config.write(f.file)
+        __do_set(section, key, value)
+
+def initialize(setting, value):
+    with Prepare(setting) as (section, key):
+        if not config.has_option(section, key):
+            __do_set(section, key, value)
 
 def load():
     with data.DataFile(config_file, data.READ_TEXT) as f:
diff --git a/lib/test_settings.py b/lib/test_settings.py
index a49c9c2..0f41675 100644
--- a/lib/test_settings.py
+++ b/lib/test_settings.py
@@ -35,6 +35,13 @@ class TestSettings(unittest.TestCase):
         settings.set("test.bool", True)
         self.assertTrue(settings.get_bool("test.bool"))
 
+    def test_initialize(self):
+        self.assertIsNone(settings.get("test.key"))
+        settings.initialize("test.key", 1)
+        self.assertEqual(settings.get_int("test.key"), 1)
+        settings.initialize("test.key", 2)
+        self.assertEqual(settings.get_int("test.key"), 1)
+
     def test_load(self):
         settings.load()