diff --git a/restore.deb.bash b/restore.deb.bash
index 7383f77..b0b67f3 100755
--- a/restore.deb.bash
+++ b/restore.deb.bash
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ function restore_config() {
   if [ -f ./exclusions ]; then
   exclusions # this runs exclusions
   fi
+  mkfast_deb # speed up this process
+
   # Novel idea but not good for errors: apt install -y $(cat $aptpkgfile | awk '{print $1}')
   apt install -y $(cat $aptpkgfile | awk '{print $1}')
   # check for error
diff --git a/restore.lib.bash b/restore.lib.bash
index 6d7f6f2..db0adbc 100644
--- a/restore.lib.bash
+++ b/restore.lib.bash
@@ -8,4 +8,13 @@ function exclusions () {
     mv installed_packages installed_packages.orig
     grep -vf exclusions installed_packages.orig  > installed_packages
 
+}
+
+function mkfast_deb () {
+    
+    # we must check for packages already installed so we don't waste time reinstalling them
+
+    dpkg --get-selections > installed_packages_fast
+    grep -vf installed_packages_fast installed_packages > installed_packages
+    
 }
\ No newline at end of file