diff --git a/modules/chat.py b/modules/chat.py
index 827b6050..1a16a689 100644
--- a/modules/chat.py
+++ b/modules/chat.py
@@ -1175,6 +1175,9 @@ def save_last_chat_state(character, mode, unique_id):
 def load_history(unique_id, character, mode):
     p = get_history_file_path(unique_id, character, mode)
 
+    if not p.exists():
+        return {'internal': [], 'visible': [], 'metadata': {}}
+
     f = json.loads(open(p, 'rb').read())
     if 'internal' in f and 'visible' in f:
         history = f