diff --git a/exam.js b/exam.js
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100755
--- a/exam.js
+++ b/exam.js
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ var exam = module.exports = function (options) {
   function readManifest() {
     waits++;
     fs.readFile(manifestPath, function (err, content) {
-      manifest = JSON.parse(content || '{}');
+      manifest = JSON.parse(content || '{"files":[]}');
       unwait();
     });
   }
Preventing error when manifest is missing