diff --git a/lib/private/Files/Template/TemplateManager.php b/lib/private/Files/Template/TemplateManager.php
index bf72e9e23e808..fd4c00b299086 100644
--- a/lib/private/Files/Template/TemplateManager.php
+++ b/lib/private/Files/Template/TemplateManager.php
@@ -274,6 +274,11 @@ public function initializeTemplateDirectory(string $path = null, string $userId
 		$isDefaultTemplates = $skeletonTemplatePath === $defaultTemplateDirectory;
 		$userLang = $this->l10nFactory->getUserLanguage($this->userManager->get($this->userId));
 
+		if ($skeletonTemplatePath === '') {
+			$this->setTemplatePath('');
+			return '';
+		}
+
 		try {
 			$l10n = $this->l10nFactory->get('lib', $userLang);
 			$userFolder = $this->rootFolder->getUserFolder($this->userId);