diff --git a/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/install.py b/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/install.py
index 8ce3c04b9..68d42938d 100644
--- a/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/install.py
+++ b/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/install.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 import argparse
 import os
-import textwrap
 
 import pkg_resources
 import yaml
@@ -78,32 +77,35 @@ class DistributionInstall(Subcommand):
             print(f"Using {args.name} as the Conda environment for this distribution")
 
         conda_env = args.conda_env or args.name
-        return_code = run_with_pty([script, conda_env, " ".join(deps)])
+
+        config_file = distrib_dir / "config.yaml"
+        if config_file.exists():
+            c = DistributionConfig(**yaml.safe_load(config_file.read_text()))
+            if c.spec != dist.spec_id:
+                self.parser.error(
+                    f"already installed distribution with `spec={c.spec}` does not match provided spec `{args.spec}`"
+                )
+                return
+            if c.conda_env != conda_env:
+                self.parser.error(
+                    f"already installed distribution has `conda_env={c.conda_env}` different from provided conda env `{conda_env}`"
+                )
+                return
+        else:
+            with open(config_file, "w") as f:
+                c = DistributionConfig(
+                    spec=dist.spec_id,
+                    name=args.name,
+                    conda_env=conda_env,
+                )
+                f.write(yaml.dump(c.dict(), sort_keys=False))
+
+        return_code = run_with_pty([script, conda_env, args.name, " ".join(deps)])
 
         assert return_code == 0, cprint(
             f"Failed to install distribution {dist.spec_id}", color="red"
         )
-
-        config_file = distrib_dir / "config.yaml"
-        with open(config_file, "w") as f:
-            c = DistributionConfig(
-                spec=dist.spec_id,
-                name=args.name,
-                conda_env=conda_env,
-            )
-            f.write(yaml.dump(c.dict(), sort_keys=False))
-
         cprint(
             f"Distribution `{args.name}` (with spec {dist.spec_id}) has been installed successfully!",
             color="green",
         )
-        print(
-            textwrap.dedent(
-                f"""
-                Update your conda environment and configure this distribution by running:
-
-                conda deactivate && conda activate {conda_env}
-                llama distribution configure --name {args.name}
-            """
-            )
-        )
diff --git a/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/start.py b/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/start.py
index c106a237c..8620550db 100644
--- a/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/start.py
+++ b/llama_toolchain/cli/distribution/start.py
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 # the root directory of this source tree.
 
 import argparse
-import shlex
 
+import pkg_resources
 import yaml
 
 from llama_toolchain.cli.subcommand import Subcommand
@@ -47,9 +47,8 @@ class DistributionStart(Subcommand):
         )
 
     def _run_distribution_start_cmd(self, args: argparse.Namespace) -> None:
-        from llama_toolchain.common.exec import run_command
+        from llama_toolchain.common.exec import run_with_pty
         from llama_toolchain.distribution.registry import resolve_distribution_spec
-        from llama_toolchain.distribution.server import main as distribution_server_init
 
         config_file = DISTRIBS_BASE_DIR / args.name / "config.yaml"
         if not config_file.exists():
@@ -67,16 +66,17 @@ class DistributionStart(Subcommand):
             raise ValueError(f"Could not find any registered spec `{config['spec']}`")
 
         conda_env = config["conda_env"]
-
-        python_exe = run_command(shlex.split("which python"))
-        # simple check, unfortunate
-        if conda_env not in python_exe:
+        if not conda_env:
             raise ValueError(
-                f"Please re-run start after activating the `{conda_env}` conda environment first"
+                f"Could not find Conda environment for distribution `{args.name}`"
             )
 
-        distribution_server_init(
-            config_file,
-            args.port,
-            disable_ipv6=args.disable_ipv6,
+        script = pkg_resources.resource_filename(
+            "llama_toolchain",
+            "distribution/start_distribution.sh",
         )
+        args = [script, conda_env, config_file, "--port", str(args.port)] + (
+            ["--disable-ipv6"] if args.disable_ipv6 else []
+        )
+
+        run_with_pty(args)
diff --git a/llama_toolchain/distribution/install_distribution.sh b/llama_toolchain/distribution/install_distribution.sh
index 975c205d0..7bfb5e27a 100755
--- a/llama_toolchain/distribution/install_distribution.sh
+++ b/llama_toolchain/distribution/install_distribution.sh
@@ -66,13 +66,20 @@ ensure_conda_env_python310() {
   fi
 }
 
-if [ "$#" -ne 2 ]; then
-  echo "Usage: $0 <environment_name> <pip_dependencies>" >&2
-  echo "Example: $0 my_env 'numpy pandas scipy'" >&2
+if [ "$#" -ne 3 ]; then
+  echo "Usage: $0 <environment_name> <distribution_name> <pip_dependencies>" >&2
+  echo "Example: $0 my_env local-inline 'numpy pandas scipy'" >&2
   exit 1
 fi
 
 env_name="$1"
-pip_dependencies="$2"
+distribution_name="$2"
+pip_dependencies="$3"
 
 ensure_conda_env_python310 "$env_name" "$pip_dependencies"
+
+eval "$(conda shell.bash hook)"
+conda deactivate && conda activate "$env_name"
+
+python_interp=$(conda run -n "$env_name" which python)
+$python_interp -m llama_toolchain.cli.llama distribution configure --name "$distribution_name"
diff --git a/llama_toolchain/distribution/registry.py b/llama_toolchain/distribution/registry.py
index 1f3021599..a89bd9b7d 100644
--- a/llama_toolchain/distribution/registry.py
+++ b/llama_toolchain/distribution/registry.py
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ def available_distribution_specs() -> List[DistributionSpec]:
             additional_pip_packages=[
                 "python-dotenv",
                 "blobfile",
-                "codeshield",
                 "fairscale",
                 "fastapi",
                 "fire",
@@ -82,6 +81,7 @@ def available_distribution_specs() -> List[DistributionSpec]:
                 "json-strong-typing",
                 "pydantic==1.10.13",
                 "pydantic_core==2.18.2",
+                "tiktoken",
                 "uvicorn",
             ],
             provider_specs={x: remote_spec(x) for x in providers},
diff --git a/llama_toolchain/distribution/start_distribution.sh b/llama_toolchain/distribution/start_distribution.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..271919676
--- /dev/null
+++ b/llama_toolchain/distribution/start_distribution.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Copyright (c) Meta Platforms, Inc. and affiliates.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# This source code is licensed under the terms described in the LICENSE file in
+# the root directory of this source tree.
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# Define color codes
+RED='\033[0;31m'
+NC='\033[0m' # No Color
+
+error_handler() {
+  echo "Error occurred in script at line: ${1}" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
+# Set up the error trap
+trap 'error_handler ${LINENO}' ERR
+
+if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
+    echo "Usage: $0 <environment_name> <script_args...>"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+
+env_name="$1"
+shift
+
+eval "$(conda shell.bash hook)"
+conda deactivate && conda activate "$env_name"
+
+python_interp=$(conda run -n "$env_name" which python)
+$python_interp -m llama_toolchain.distribution.server "$@"