diff --git a/qubesappmenus/__init__.py b/qubesappmenus/__init__.py
index fa85e1e..1dc694b 100644
--- a/qubesappmenus/__init__.py
+++ b/qubesappmenus/__init__.py
@@ -142,7 +142,10 @@ class AppmenusExtension(qubes.ext.Extension):
             anything_changed = True
 
         templates_dir = self.templates_dir(vm)
-        appmenus = os.listdir(templates_dir)
+        if os.path.exists(templates_dir):
+            appmenus = os.listdir(templates_dir)
+        else:
+            appmenus = []
         changed_appmenus = []
         if os.path.exists(self.whitelist_path(vm)):
             whitelist = [x.rstrip() for x in open(self.whitelist_path(vm))]