diff --git a/pkg/npm/api/groups/lib.ts b/pkg/npm/api/groups/lib.ts
index f66b3386d..7e93ad3a4 100644
--- a/pkg/npm/api/groups/lib.ts
+++ b/pkg/npm/api/groups/lib.ts
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ export const isWriter = (group: Group, resource: string, ship: string) => {
   if (typeof writers === 'undefined') {
     return true;
   } else {
-    return writers.includes(ship) || admins.includes(ship);
+    return [...writers].includes(ship) || admins.includes(ship);
   }
 };
 
diff --git a/pkg/npm/api/lib/lib.ts b/pkg/npm/api/lib/lib.ts
index c1d88a6f5..c57d0a259 100644
--- a/pkg/npm/api/lib/lib.ts
+++ b/pkg/npm/api/lib/lib.ts
@@ -141,6 +141,18 @@ export function dateToDa(d: Date, mil: boolean = false): string {
   );
 }
 
+export function preSig(ship: string): string {
+  if (!ship) {
+    return '';
+  }
+
+  if (ship.trim().startsWith('~')) {
+    return ship.trim();
+  }
+
+  return '~'.concat(ship.trim());
+}
+
 export function deSig(ship: string): string | null {
   if (!ship) {
     return null;
diff --git a/pkg/npm/api/package.json b/pkg/npm/api/package.json
index b6b376123..e5dc09718 100644
--- a/pkg/npm/api/package.json
+++ b/pkg/npm/api/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@urbit/api",
-  "version": "2.1.0",
+  "version": "2.1.1",
   "description": "A library that provides bindings and types for Urbit's various userspace desks",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",