diff --git a/mayan/apps/smart_settings/utils.py b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/utils.py
index 4282d2c38d..77ce325e0c 100644
--- a/mayan/apps/smart_settings/utils.py
+++ b/mayan/apps/smart_settings/utils.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ def read_configuration_file(path):
                     )
     except IOError as exception:
         if exception.errno == errno.ENOENT:
-            pass
+            return {}  # No config file, return empty dictionary
         else:
             raise