diff --git a/cmd/repoguard/main.go b/cmd/repoguard/main.go
index 7dd0c6c9..3ed88102 100644
--- a/cmd/repoguard/main.go
+++ b/cmd/repoguard/main.go
@@ -66,14 +66,15 @@ func main() {
 	gitCommand := cmdParts[0]
 
 	// did:foo/repo-name or
-	// handle/repo-name
+	// handle/repo-name or
+	// any of the above with a leading slash (/)
 
-	components := strings.Split(strings.Trim(cmdParts[1], "'"), "/")
+	components := strings.Split(strings.TrimPrefix(strings.Trim(cmdParts[1], "'"), "/"), "/")
 	logEvent("Command components", map[string]interface{}{
 		"components": components,
 	})
 	if len(components) != 2 {
-		exitWithLog("invalid repo format, needs <user>/<repo>")
+		exitWithLog("invalid repo format, needs <user>/<repo> or /<user>/<repo>")
 	}
 
 	didOrHandle := components[0]
diff --git a/flake.nix b/flake.nix
index dbbdcd81..2aa2055e 100644
--- a/flake.nix
+++ b/flake.nix
@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@
         shellHook = ''
           cp -f ${htmx-src} appview/pages/static/htmx.min.js
           cp -f ${lucide-src} appview/pages/static/lucide.min.js
+          mkdir -p appview/pages/static/fonts/
           cp -f ${ia-fonts-src}/"iA Writer Quattro"/Static/*.ttf appview/pages/static/fonts/
           cp -f ${ia-fonts-src}/"iA Writer Mono"/Static/*.ttf appview/pages/static/fonts/
         '';