diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index 7581c3a..d623f95 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ class Installer:
         if content is None:
             self.log.err('generate from template \"%s\"' % (src))
             return []
+        if not os.path.exists(src):
+            self.log.err('installing %s to %s' % (src, dst))
+            return []
         st = os.stat(src)
         ret = self._write(dst, content, st.st_mode)
         if ret < 0:
diff --git a/dotdrop/templategen.py b/dotdrop/templategen.py
index 63256c1..a362f00 100644
--- a/dotdrop/templategen.py
+++ b/dotdrop/templategen.py
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ class Templategen:
                                comment_end_string=COMMENT_END)
 
     def generate(self, src, profile):
+        if not os.path.exists(src):
+            return ''
         return self._handle_file(src, profile)
 
     def _handle_file(self, src, profile):