diff --git a/hey/cli.py b/hey/cli.py
index 4c1317b..8d6df06 100644
--- a/hey/cli.py
+++ b/hey/cli.py
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ def main(
 
     if ctx.invoked_subcommand is None:
         user_input = open_tmp_editor()
+        if not user_input.strip():
+            console.print("No input provided.")
+            raise typer.Exit(code=1)
         markdown_input = Markdown(
             user_input, code_theme=configs.get("code_block_theme")
         )
@@ -74,6 +77,9 @@ def ask(
     Ask Hey directly in-command.
     """
 
+    if not user_input.strip():
+        console.print("No input provided.")
+        raise typer.Exit(code=1)
     result = answer(user_input, no_style)
     console.print(result)
 
diff --git a/hey/configs/cli.py b/hey/configs/cli.py
index bfd6264..625715c 100644
--- a/hey/configs/cli.py
+++ b/hey/configs/cli.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 def create():
     """Create a base config file."""
     if not config_exists():
-        os.makedirs(APP_CONFIG_DIR)
+        os.makedirs(APP_CONFIG_DIR, exist_ok=True)
         init_config()
     else:
         if Confirm.ask(
diff --git a/hey/configs/utils.py b/hey/configs/utils.py
index 5d522cf..16619b3 100644
--- a/hey/configs/utils.py
+++ b/hey/configs/utils.py
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ def read_configs() -> dict:
 
 
 def init_config():
-    with open(CONFIG_FILE_PATH, "w+") as conf_file:
+    os.makedirs(APP_CONFIG_DIR, exist_ok=True)
+    with open(CONFIG_FILE_PATH, "w+", encoding="utf-8") as conf_file:
         conf_file.write(json.dumps(BASE_CONFIG, indent=4))
 
 
diff --git a/hey/openai.py b/hey/openai.py
index 876592e..24cef21 100644
--- a/hey/openai.py
+++ b/hey/openai.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.prompt = prompt
 
     def ask(self, text: str) -> str:
-        if not text:
+        if not text or not text.strip():
             raise ValueError("provide a valid input.")
         try:
             client_mindsdb_serve = OpenAI(
diff --git a/tests/test_configs_utils.py b/tests/test_configs_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fcd0b80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_configs_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from hey.configs import utils
+from hey.consts import BASE_CONFIG
+
+
+def test_init_config_creates_directory_and_file(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    config_dir = tmp_path / "hey"
+    config_file = config_dir / "config.json"
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(utils, "APP_CONFIG_DIR", config_dir)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(utils, "CONFIG_FILE_PATH", config_file)
+
+    utils.init_config()
+
+    assert config_file.exists()
+    loaded = json.loads(config_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    assert loaded == BASE_CONFIG