diff --git a/sharedstate.lua b/sharedstate.lua
index 018e4cd..e0ca2cf 100644
--- a/sharedstate.lua
+++ b/sharedstate.lua
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ do
 	local function init_key(key)
 		logging.trace('init_key', key)
 		if key == nil then
-			error("sharedstate: A key name is required")
+			local errormsg="sharedstate: A key name is required"
+			error(errormsg)
 		end
 		
 		if is_initialized(key) then
@@ -127,11 +128,13 @@ end
 ---initialization.
 ---@param key string key name
 ---@param value any initial value
----@param callback function Callback function to run on value change
+---@param callback? function Callback function to run on value change
 function sharedstate.add(key, value, callback)
 	logging.trace("sharedstate.add", key, value, callback)
 	set_value(key, value, callback)
 end
+-- alias so i can decide what feels better
+sharedstate.init=sharedstate.add
 
 --- Internal; transfer value over network
 ---Ping used to transfer a value over the network, should not be called
@@ -150,7 +153,9 @@ end
 function sharedstate.set(key, value)
 	logging.trace("sharedstate.set", key, value)
 	if not is_initialized(key) then
-		error("sharedstate: Key " .. key .. " has not been initialized.")
+		-- this makes the error traceback less confusing
+		local errormsg="sharedstate: Key " .. key .. " has not been initialized."
+		error(errormsg)
 	end
 	pings.sharedstate_transfer(resolve_index(key), value)
 end