diff --git a/distros.sh b/distros.sh
index 64f8308..9ac7828 100755
--- a/distros.sh
+++ b/distros.sh
@@ -154,15 +154,20 @@ source_script() {
   fi
 }
 
+# just an alias for source_script
 source-script() {
   source_script "$1"
 }
 
 run() {
-  if $silent; then
-    silentexec "$@"
-  else
+  if [[ -z $silent ]]; then
     "$@"
+  else
+    if $silent; then
+      silentexec "$@"
+    else
+      "$@"
+    fi
   fi
 }
 
@@ -182,7 +187,8 @@ checkAndInstall() {
     fi
   else
     # ─< else go though the list of items and do the same >───────────────────────────────────
-    echo_pkg deps "${BRIGHT_YELLOW}Installing ${RED}${#@}${BRIGHT_YELLOW} packages.. - ${BRIGHT_BLUE} $* ${NC}"
+    echo_pkg deps "${BRIGHT_YELLOW}Installing ${RED}${#@}${BRIGHT_YELLOW} packages..${NC}"
+    echo_pkg deps "${BRIGHT_BLUE} $* ${NC}"
     for deps in "${@}"; do
       # echo_pkg deps "Installing $deps"
       if ! command_exists $deps; then
@@ -192,7 +198,7 @@ checkAndInstall() {
           echo_pkg deps "$deps is already installed.."
         fi
       else
-        echo_pkg deps "skipping $1 - as it's ${RED}already installed.."
+        echo_pkg deps "skipping $deps - as it's ${RED}already installed.."
       fi
     done
   fi
@@ -573,7 +579,7 @@ if check_env; then
       touch "$pikaCheckFile"
     fi
   else
-    echo_note "Skipping repo refresh (PIKA_INIT is already set)"
+    echo_pkg "Skipping repo refresh (PIKA_INIT is already set)"
   fi
 
 fi