diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverConfig.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverConfig.kt
index f3f9c42..88609d2 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverConfig.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverConfig.kt
@@ -63,4 +63,19 @@ open class SemverConfig {
     var separatorKey = DEFAULT_SEPARATOR
         get() = "$keysPrefix$field"
     var keysPrefix = DEFAULT_KEYS_PREFIX
+
+    override fun toString(): String {
+        return "SemverConfig(" +
+            "properties='$properties', " +
+            "majorKey='$majorKey', " +
+            "minorKey='$minorKey', " +
+            "patchKey='$patchKey', " +
+            "preReleaseKey='$preReleaseKey', " +
+            "preReleasePrefixKey='$preReleasePrefixKey', " +
+            "buildMetaKey='$buildMetaKey', " +
+            "buildMetaPrefixKey='$buildMetaPrefixKey', " +
+            "separator='$separatorKey', " +
+            "keysPrefix='$keysPrefix')" +
+            ")"
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt
index 774787d..5da1f23 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/SemverPlugin.kt
@@ -36,8 +36,6 @@ import org.gradle.api.Plugin
 import org.gradle.api.Project
 import org.gradle.util.GradleVersion
 import java.io.File
-import java.io.FileInputStream
-import java.util.Properties
 
 class SemverPlugin : Plugin<Project> {
     private val simpleName = SemverPlugin::class.simpleName
@@ -61,48 +59,39 @@ class SemverPlugin : Plugin<Project> {
 
     private fun afterEvaluate(project: Project) {
         val propsFile = File(config.properties)
+
         if (project.version != "unspecified") {
             project.logger.warn(
                 "Please specify the version in ${propsFile.name} and remove it from ${project.buildFile.name}")
         }
+
         propsFile.apply {
+            val isNew = !exists()
+
             project.logger.info(
-                "[$simpleName] Attempting to read properties from: `$absoluteFile`. [exists: ${exists()}, isFile: $isFile, canRead: ${canRead()}]")
-            var hasReqProps = false
-            if (canRead() && isFile) {
-                FileInputStream(this).reader().use { reader ->
-                    Properties().apply {
-                        load(reader)
+                "[$simpleName] Attempting to read properties from: `$absoluteFile`. [exists: $isNew, isFile: $isFile, canRead: ${propsFile.canRead()}]")
 
-                        val requiredProps = setOf(config.majorKey, config.minorKey, config.patchKey,
-                            config.preReleaseKey, config.buildMetaKey)
-                        hasReqProps = stringPropertyNames().containsAll(requiredProps) &&
-                            Utils.isNotSystemProperty(requiredProps)
+            val props = Utils.loadProperties(propsFile)
+            val requiredProps = setOf(config.majorKey, config.minorKey, config.patchKey, config.preReleaseKey,
+                config.buildMetaKey)
+            val hasReqProps = !isNew && props.stringPropertyNames().containsAll(requiredProps) &&
+                Utils.isNotSystemProperty(requiredProps)
 
-                        version.major = Utils.loadProperty(this, config.majorKey, Version.DEFAULT_MAJOR)
-                        version.minor = Utils.loadProperty(this, config.minorKey, Version.DEFAULT_MINOR)
-                        version.patch = Utils.loadProperty(this, config.patchKey, Version.DEFAULT_PATCH)
-                        version.preRelease = Utils.loadProperty(this, config.preReleaseKey, Version.DEFAULT_EMPTY)
-                        version.preReleasePrefix =
-                            getProperty(config.preReleasePrefixKey, Version.DEFAULT_PRERELEASE_PREFIX)
-                        version.buildMeta = Utils.loadProperty(this, config.buildMetaKey, Version.DEFAULT_EMPTY)
-                        version.buildMetaPrefix =
-                            getProperty(config.buildMetaPrefixKey, Version.DEFAULT_BUILDMETA_PREFIX)
-                        version.separator = getProperty(config.separatorKey, Version.DEFAULT_SEPARATOR)
+            println(isNew)
+            println(props.stringPropertyNames().containsAll(requiredProps))
+            println(Utils.isNotSystemProperty(requiredProps))
 
-                        project.tasks.withType(SemverIncrementBuildMetaTask::class.java) {
-                            buildMeta = version.buildMeta
-                        }
-                    }
-                }
-            } else if (exists()) {
-                throw GradleException("Unable to read version from: `$absoluteFile`")
+            Utils.loadVersion(config, version, props)
+
+            project.tasks.withType(SemverIncrementBuildMetaTask::class.java) {
+                buildMeta = version.buildMeta
             }
+
             project.version = version.semver
             project.logger.info("[$simpleName] Project version set to: ${project.version}")
+
             if (!hasReqProps || !isFile) {
-                // If first time running and there is no props file, and the required version properties are missing,
-                // then version props would never have been saved before
+                project.logger.info("[$simpleName] Saving version properties to `${config.properties}`.")
                 Utils.saveProperties(config, version)
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt
index f1497f1..ae93ba6 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Utils.kt
@@ -14,45 +14,94 @@ import java.util.Properties
  * @since 1.0
  */
 object Utils {
+    fun File.canReadFile(): Boolean {
+        return canRead() && isFile
+    }
+
+    private fun Properties.put(key: String, value: String, isValidCondition: Boolean) {
+        if (isValidCondition) put(key, value)
+    }
+
     fun isNotSystemProperty(keys: Set<String>): Boolean {
         keys.forEach {
-            if (!System.getProperties().containsKey(it)) return true
+            if (System.getProperties().containsKey(it)) return false
         }
-        return false
+        return true
+    }
+
+    fun loadProperties(file: File): Properties {
+        var isNew = false
+        val props = Properties()
+        file.apply {
+            if (!exists()) {
+                if (!createNewFile()) {
+                    throw GradleException("Unable to create: `$absoluteFile`")
+                } else {
+                    isNew = true
+                }
+            }
+            if (canReadFile()) {
+                FileInputStream(this).reader().use { reader ->
+                    props.apply {
+                        if (!isNew) {
+                            load(reader)
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            } else {
+                throw GradleException("Unable to read version from: `$absoluteFile`")
+            }
+        }
+        return props
     }
 
     fun loadProperty(props: Properties, key: String, default: String): String {
-        return System.getProperty(key, props.getProperty(key, default))
+        return System.getProperty(key, if (props.isNotEmpty()) props.getProperty(key, default) else default)
+    }
+
+    fun loadVersion(config: SemverConfig, version: Version, props: Properties) {
+        props.apply {
+            version.major = loadProperty(this, config.majorKey, Version.DEFAULT_MAJOR)
+            version.minor = loadProperty(this, config.minorKey, Version.DEFAULT_MINOR)
+            version.patch = loadProperty(this, config.patchKey, Version.DEFAULT_PATCH)
+            version.preRelease = loadProperty(this, config.preReleaseKey, Version.DEFAULT_EMPTY)
+            version.buildMeta = loadProperty(this, config.buildMetaKey, Version.DEFAULT_EMPTY)
+
+            if (!isEmpty) {
+                version.preReleasePrefix =
+                    getProperty(config.preReleasePrefixKey, Version.DEFAULT_PRERELEASE_PREFIX)
+                version.buildMetaPrefix =
+                    getProperty(config.buildMetaPrefixKey, Version.DEFAULT_BUILDMETA_PREFIX)
+                version.separator = getProperty(config.separatorKey, Version.DEFAULT_SEPARATOR)
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fun saveProperties(config: SemverConfig, version: Version) {
         val propsFile = File(config.properties)
         SortedProperties().apply {
             propsFile.apply {
-                if (canRead() && isFile) {
+                if (canReadFile()) {
                     FileInputStream(this).reader().use { load(it) }
-                }
-            }
-
-            put(config.majorKey, version.major)
-            put(config.minorKey, version.minor)
-            put(config.patchKey, version.patch)
-            put(config.preReleaseKey, version.preRelease)
-            put(config.buildMetaKey, version.buildMeta)
-            if (version.buildMetaPrefix != Version.DEFAULT_BUILDMETA_PREFIX ||
-                containsKey(config.buildMetaPrefixKey))
-                put(config.buildMetaPrefixKey, version.buildMetaPrefix)
-            if (version.preReleasePrefix != Version.DEFAULT_PRERELEASE_PREFIX ||
-                containsKey(config.preReleasePrefixKey))
-                put(config.preReleasePrefixKey, version.preReleasePrefix)
-            if (version.separator != Version.DEFAULT_SEPARATOR || containsKey(config.separatorKey))
-                put(config.separatorKey, version.separator)
-
-            propsFile.apply {
-                if (!exists()) {
-                    // Need to create the file as canWrite() will not work unless the file exists
+                } else {
                     createNewFile()
                 }
+
+                put(config.majorKey, version.major)
+                put(config.minorKey, version.minor)
+                put(config.patchKey, version.patch)
+                put(config.preReleaseKey, version.preRelease)
+                put(config.buildMetaKey, version.buildMeta)
+                put(config.buildMetaPrefixKey, version.buildMetaPrefix,
+                    version.buildMetaPrefix != Version.DEFAULT_BUILDMETA_PREFIX ||
+                        containsKey(config.buildMetaPrefixKey))
+                put(config.preReleasePrefixKey, version.preReleasePrefix,
+                    version.preReleasePrefix != Version.DEFAULT_PRERELEASE_PREFIX ||
+                        containsKey(config.preReleasePrefixKey))
+                put(config.separatorKey, version.separator,
+                    version.separator != Version.DEFAULT_SEPARATOR ||
+                        containsKey(config.separatorKey))
+
                 if (canWrite()) {
                     FileOutputStream(this).writer().use {
                         store(it, "Generated by the Semver Plugin for Gradle")
diff --git a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Version.kt b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Version.kt
index 7179745..1ff5cb4 100644
--- a/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Version.kt
+++ b/src/main/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/Version.kt
@@ -68,4 +68,17 @@ class Version {
         }
         if (isPatch) patch = (patch.toInt() + 1).toString()
     }
+
+    override fun toString(): String {
+        return "Version(" +
+            "major='$major', " +
+            "minor='$minor', " +
+            "patch='$patch', " +
+            "preRelease='$preRelease', " +
+            "preReleasePrefix='$preReleasePrefix', " +
+            "buildMeta='$buildMeta', " +
+            "buildMetaPrefix='$buildMetaPrefix', " +
+            "separator='$separator'" +
+            ")"
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt b/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt
index 791c5fb..d742885 100644
--- a/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt
+++ b/src/test/kotlin/net/thauvin/erik/gradle/semver/UtilsSpec.kt
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@
  */
 package net.thauvin.erik.gradle.semver
 
+import net.thauvin.erik.gradle.semver.Utils.canReadFile
 import org.spekframework.spek2.Spek
 import org.spekframework.spek2.style.specification.describe
 import java.io.File
-import java.nio.file.Files
 import java.util.Properties
 import kotlin.test.assertEquals
 import kotlin.test.assertNull
@@ -43,30 +43,23 @@ import kotlin.test.assertTrue
 @Suppress("unused")
 object UtilsSpec : Spek({
     describe("a config and version") {
-        val version by memoized { Version() }
-        val config by memoized { SemverConfig() }
-        val configFile = File("test.properties")
+        val version = Version()
+        val config = SemverConfig()
+        val propsFile = File("test.properties")
         lateinit var props: Properties
 
-        before {
-            config.properties = configFile.name
-        }
-
         describe("save properties") {
-            it("should save properties") {
+            it("save properties") {
+                config.properties = propsFile.name
                 Utils.saveProperties(config, version)
-                assertTrue(configFile.exists())
+                assertTrue(propsFile.canReadFile())
             }
             it("load the properties") {
-                props = Properties().apply {
-                    Files.newInputStream(configFile.toPath()).use { nis ->
-                        load(nis)
-                    }
-                    configFile.delete()
-                }
+                props = Utils.loadProperties(propsFile)
+                propsFile.delete()
             }
         }
-        describe("validate the properties file") {
+        describe("validate the properties") {
             it("version should be the same") {
                 assertEquals(props.getProperty(config.majorKey), version.major, "Major")
                 assertEquals(props.getProperty(config.minorKey), version.minor, "Minor")
@@ -95,6 +88,20 @@ object UtilsSpec : Spek({
                     assertEquals(Utils.loadProperty(props, it.first, ""), it.second)
                 }
             }
+            it("load version") {
+                Utils.loadVersion(config, version, props)
+                assertEquals(version.semver, "2.1.1-beta+007")
+            }
+            it("save new properties") {
+                Utils.saveProperties(config, version)
+            }
+            it("check saved properties") {
+                val newProps = Utils.loadProperties(propsFile)
+                newVersion.forEach {
+                    assertEquals(newProps.getProperty(it.first), it.second, it.second)
+                }
+                propsFile.delete()
+            }
         }
     }
 })