diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 13e309d3b..fcae47e75 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ __pycache__/
 .venv
 test_weights.npz
 .exo_used_ports
+.exo_node_id
 .idea
 
 # Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
@@ -166,4 +167,4 @@ cython_debug/
 #  be found at https://github.com/github/gitignore/blob/main/Global/JetBrains.gitignore
 #  and can be added to the global gitignore or merged into this file.  For a more nuclear
 #  option (not recommended) you can uncomment the following to ignore the entire idea folder.
-#.idea/
\ No newline at end of file
+#.idea/
diff --git a/exo/helpers.py b/exo/helpers.py
index 71281a359..2b4027a4a 100644
--- a/exo/helpers.py
+++ b/exo/helpers.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@
 import random
 import platform
 import psutil
+import uuid
+from pathlib import Path
 
 DEBUG = int(os.getenv("DEBUG", default="0"))
 DEBUG_DISCOVERY = int(os.getenv("DEBUG_DISCOVERY", default="0"))
@@ -167,3 +169,35 @@ def find_longest_prefix(self, argument: str) -> Optional[Tuple[K, V]]:
             return None
 
         return max(matches, key=lambda x: len(x[0]))
+
+def is_valid_uuid(val):
+    try:
+        uuid.UUID(str(val))
+        return True
+    except ValueError:
+        return False
+
+def get_or_create_node_id():
+    NODE_ID_FILE = Path(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))) / ".exo_node_id"
+    try:
+        if NODE_ID_FILE.is_file():
+            with open(NODE_ID_FILE, "r") as f:
+                stored_id = f.read().strip()
+            if is_valid_uuid(stored_id):
+                if DEBUG >= 2: print(f"Retrieved existing node ID: {stored_id}")
+                return stored_id
+            else:
+                if DEBUG >= 2: print("Stored ID is not a valid UUID. Generating a new one.")
+
+        new_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
+        with open(NODE_ID_FILE, "w") as f:
+            f.write(new_id)
+
+        if DEBUG >= 2: print(f"Generated and stored new node ID: {new_id}")
+        return new_id
+    except IOError as e:
+        if DEBUG >= 2: print(f"IO error creating node_id: {e}")
+        return str(uuid.uuid4())
+    except Exception as e:
+        if DEBUG >= 2: print(f"Unexpected error creating node_id: {e}")
+        return str(uuid.uuid4())
diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index a456f2daf..3b47c1c9c 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
 from exo.networking.grpc.grpc_discovery import GRPCDiscovery
 from exo.topology.ring_memory_weighted_partitioning_strategy import RingMemoryWeightedPartitioningStrategy
 from exo.api import ChatGPTAPI
-from exo.helpers import print_yellow_exo, find_available_port, DEBUG, get_inference_engine, get_system_info
+from exo.helpers import print_yellow_exo, find_available_port, DEBUG, get_inference_engine, get_system_info, get_or_create_node_id
 
 # parse args
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Initialize GRPC Discovery")
-parser.add_argument("--node-id", type=str, default=str(uuid.uuid4()), help="Node ID")
+parser.add_argument("--node-id", type=str, default=None, help="Node ID")
 parser.add_argument("--node-host", type=str, default="0.0.0.0", help="Node host")
 parser.add_argument("--node-port", type=int, default=None, help="Node port")
 parser.add_argument("--listen-port", type=int, default=5678, help="Listening port for discovery")
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
     args.node_port = find_available_port(args.node_host)
     if DEBUG >= 1: print(f"Using available port: {args.node_port}")
 
+args.node_id = args.node_id or get_or_create_node_id()
 discovery = GRPCDiscovery(args.node_id, args.node_port, args.listen_port, args.broadcast_port, discovery_timeout=args.discovery_timeout)
 node = StandardNode(
     args.node_id,