diff --git a/src/Password/App/Event.hs b/src/Password/App/Event.hs
index 65d2869..b8f7cbc 100644
--- a/src/Password/App/Event.hs
+++ b/src/Password/App/Event.hs
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ import Lens.Micro ((^.))
 import Lens.Micro.Mtl (zoom)
 import System.EasyFile
   ( createDirectoryIfMissing
+  , doesFileExist
   , getAppUserDataDirectory
   , (</>)
   )
@@ -70,7 +71,9 @@ loadDatabase = zoom database $ liftIO
   ( do
     dir <- mkAppDir
     let fn = dir </> dbFile
-    decodeFileStrict fn
+    doesFileExist fn >>= \case
+      True  -> decodeFileStrict fn
+      False -> return Nothing
   ) >>= mapM_ put
 
 fallbackHandler :: BrickEvent ResName () -> EventM ResName AppState ()