diff --git a/conjurer_librarian/conjurer_librarian.py b/conjurer_librarian/conjurer_librarian.py
index 5a521bc..6198a71 100644
--- a/conjurer_librarian/conjurer_librarian.py
+++ b/conjurer_librarian/conjurer_librarian.py
@@ -39,7 +39,10 @@ class Librarian(object):
         #sql row - title, doi, author, uuid, last retrieved, is_available
         with open("results.json", "r+", encoding="UTF-8") as data_file:
             # First we load existing data into a dict.
-            file_data = json.load(data_file)
+            try:
+                file_data = json.load(data_file)
+            except JSONDecodeError:
+                file_data = []
             # Join new_data with file_data inside emp_details
             summarized_results = []
             for item in self.last_search['message']['items']: