diff --git a/changelog.md b/changelog.md
index cf8d356..97485cb 100644
--- a/changelog.md
+++ b/changelog.md
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 2024-10-28 - 1.5.3 - fix(core)
+Fix incorrect logging and directory preparation
+
+- Corrected logging to accurately report the number of detected publish modules.
+- Ensured the publish directory is emptied before creating package.json.
+
 ## 2024-10-28 - 1.5.2 - fix(core)
 Add logging for found publish modules
 
diff --git a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
index de551a7..c9b7197 100644
--- a/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
+++ b/ts/00_commitinfo_data.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
  */
 export const commitinfo = {
   name: '@git.zone/tspublish',
-  version: '1.5.2',
+  version: '1.5.3',
   description: 'A tool to publish multiple, concise, and small packages from monorepos, specifically for TypeScript projects within a git environment.'
 }
diff --git a/ts/classes.publishmodule.ts b/ts/classes.publishmodule.ts
index 460c33f..d704d9d 100644
--- a/ts/classes.publishmodule.ts
+++ b/ts/classes.publishmodule.ts
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ export class PublishModule {
       this.options.monoRepoDir,
       `dist_publish_${this.options.packageSubFolder}`
     );
+    await plugins.smartfile.fs.ensureEmptyDir(this.options.publishModDirFullPath);
 
     // package.json
-    await plugins.smartfile.fs.ensureEmptyDir(this.options.publishModDirFullPath);
     const packageJson = await plugins.smartfile.SmartFile.fromString(
       plugins.path.join(this.options.publishModDirFullPath, 'package.json'),
       await this.createPackageJson(),
diff --git a/ts/classes.tspublish.ts b/ts/classes.tspublish.ts
index b47f7e8..0c7baaa 100644
--- a/ts/classes.tspublish.ts
+++ b/ts/classes.tspublish.ts
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@ export class TsPublish {
 
   public async publish (monorepoDirArg: string) {
     const publishModules = await this.getModuleSubDirs(monorepoDirArg);
-    console.log(`Found ${publishModules.length} publish modules:`);
-    console.log(publishModules);
+    console.log(`Found ${Object.keys(publishModules).length} publish modules:`);
+    console.log(Object.keys(publishModules));
     for (const publishModule of Object.keys(publishModules)) {
       const publishModuleInstance = new PublishModule({
         monoRepoDir: monorepoDirArg,