diff --git a/delojza.py b/delojza.py
index 2a139ba..f0c3a9c 100755
--- a/delojza.py
+++ b/delojza.py
@@ -464,7 +464,10 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         logging.error("No config file found, stopping.")
         sys.exit(-1)
 
-    markov = MarkovBlabberer("initial.txt")
+    try:
+        markov = MarkovBlabberer("initial.txt")
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        markov = None
 
     delojza = DelojzaBot(config.get('delojza', 'tg_api_key'),
                          config.get('delojza', 'OUT_DIR', fallback=os.path.join(_DIR_, "out")),