diff --git a/xbstrap/base.py b/xbstrap/base.py
index abba0af..9917e0f 100644
--- a/xbstrap/base.py
+++ b/xbstrap/base.py
@@ -794,7 +794,10 @@ def download_remote_xbps_repodata(self, arch):
     def access_local_xbps_repodata(self, arch):
         rd_path = os.path.join(self.xbps_repository_dir, f"{arch}-repodata")
 
-        index = _xbps_utils.read_repodata(rd_path)
+        try:
+            index = _xbps_utils.read_repodata(rd_path)
+        except FileNotFoundError:
+            return {}
         return index
 
     def get_installed_pkgs(self):