diff --git a/lib/manifest.js b/lib/manifest.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/manifest.js
+++ b/lib/manifest.js
@@ -20,7 +20,12 @@ function writeManifest (archive, manifest, cb) {
 // helper to write updates to a manifest object
 function updateManifest (archive, updates, cb) {
   return maybe(cb, async function () {
-    var manifest = await readManifest(archive)
+    var manifest
+    try {
+      manifest = await readManifest(archive)
+    } catch (e) {
+      manifest = {}
+    }
     Object.assign(manifest, generateManifest(updates))
     return writeManifest(archive, manifest)
   })
Create a new manifest if the old manifest DNE