diff --git a/lib/flip/cookie_strategy.rb b/lib/flip/cookie_strategy.rb
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/lib/flip/cookie_strategy.rb
+++ b/lib/flip/cookie_strategy.rb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ module Flip
     private
 
     def cookies
-      @@cookies || raise("Cookies not loaded")
+      @@cookies || {}
     end
 
     # Include in ApplicationController to push cookies into CookieStrategy.
CookieStrategy gracefully handles absence of cookie data.