diff --git a/mayan/settings/utils.py b/mayan/settings/utils.py
index 4d52cb7ac7..c798fd18b8 100644
--- a/mayan/settings/utils.py
+++ b/mayan/settings/utils.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def read_configuration_file(path):
                     )
     except IOError as exception:
         if exception.errno == errno.ENOENT:
-            pass
+            return {}
         else:
             raise