diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 045b025..9c35319 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,17 +6,13 @@ alerts u when u have unread messages by adding 📬 to your bash prompt
 
 - configure your imap server in `~/.uvgotmail/config` file. you can also use an existing `.muttrc` file.
 - add `(./uvgotmail.py --daemon &)` to the end of your `.bashrc` file
-- find the line where your PS1 is set and put `\$(./uvgotmail.py --check)` at the start
+- find the line where your PS1 is set and put `\$(cat ~/.uvgotmail/unread)` at the start
 
 
 ## OPTIONS:
 
-### check mode
-
 - `--mailbox-symbol [string]`: specify your own symbol instead of 📬
 - `--no-count`: by default, if you have multiple messages you will get `(n) 📬` in your PS1. this option turns that off.
-
-### daemon mode
 - `--config [path]`: path to config file
 - `--mutt`: load server settings from .muttrc file
 
diff --git a/uvgotmail.py b/uvgotmail.py
index 9dd529b..6a94c13 100755
--- a/uvgotmail.py
+++ b/uvgotmail.py
@@ -184,7 +184,12 @@ def check():
 def writeUnreadFile(unseen):
     try:
         with open(os.path.expanduser('~/.uvgotmail/unread'),'w') as f:
-            f.write(str(len(unseen)))
+            if len(unseen) == 0:
+                f.write('')
+            elif(len(unseen) > 1 and config["no_count"] == False):
+                f.write("("+str(len(unseen))+") "+config["mailbox_symbol"]+' ')
+            else:
+                f.write(config["mailbox_symbol"]+' ')
     except Exception as e:
         if config["debug"]: print(e)
         print("uvgotmail: could not write to unread file")