diff --git a/source/src/commands/install.cpp b/source/src/commands/install.cpp
index 715fc27..af2047d 100644
--- a/source/src/commands/install.cpp
+++ b/source/src/commands/install.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ namespace dropshell
             Install components on a server. This is safe to re-run (non-destructive) and used to update
             servers and their services.
 
-            install                      (re)install dropshell components on this computer, and on all servers.
+            install                      (re)install dropshell components on this computer only.
+            install all                  (re)install dropshell locally, then agents on all servers.
             install SERVER               (re)install dropshell agent on the particular given server.
             install SERVER [SERVICE|all] (re)install the given service (or all services) on the given server.
 
@@ -571,8 +572,10 @@ complete -F _dropshell_completions ds
         if (ctx.args.size() == 1)
         { // install server
             if (server == "all")
-            { // install the dropshell agent on all servers.
-                int rval = 0;
+            { // install locally first, then on all servers.
+                int rval = install_host();
+                if (rval != 0)
+                    return rval;
                 std::vector<ServerConfig> servers = get_configured_servers();
                 for (const auto &server : servers)
                     rval += abs(install_server(server)); // capture any non-zero return values.