diff --git a/roles/kiwix/templates/iiab-make-kiwix-lib b/roles/kiwix/templates/iiab-make-kiwix-lib
index 083b87116..e69271949 100644
--- a/roles/kiwix/templates/iiab-make-kiwix-lib
+++ b/roles/kiwix/templates/iiab-make-kiwix-lib
@@ -19,10 +19,16 @@ if flock -n -e 200; then :
   # write to {{ kiwix_library_xml }}.tmp to minimize kiwix down
   # zim map could be out of sync for a few seconds
   # using new version that does deltas
-  cp $KIWIXLIB $KIWIXLIB.tmp
-  /usr/bin/iiab-make-kiwix-lib.py
+  if [ -f $KIWIXLIB ]; then
+    cp $KIWIXLIB $KIWIXLIB.tmp
+    /usr/bin/iiab-make-kiwix-lib.py
+  else
+    /usr/bin/iiab-make-kiwix-lib.py -f # force rebuild of library.xml
+  fi
   {{ systemctl_program }} stop kiwix-serve
-  rm $KIWIXLIB
+  if [ -f $KIWIXLIB ]; then
+    rm $KIWIXLIB
+  fi
   mv $KIWIXLIB.tmp $KIWIXLIB
   {{ systemctl_program }} start kiwix-serve
 else
diff --git a/roles/pylibs/templates/iiab_lib.py b/roles/pylibs/templates/iiab_lib.py
index 84dee97e3..ef9da7e82 100644
--- a/roles/pylibs/templates/iiab_lib.py
+++ b/roles/pylibs/templates/iiab_lib.py
@@ -85,8 +85,9 @@ def read_library_xml(lib_xml_file, kiwix_exclude_attr=["favicon"]): # duplicated
                     attributes[attr] = child.attrib[attr] # copy if not id or in exclusion list
             zims_installed[zim_id] = attributes
             path_to_id_map[child.attrib['path']] = zim_id
-    except IOError:
+    except: # though I try how can I carry on
         zims_installed = {}
+        path_to_id_map = {}
     return zims_installed, path_to_id_map
 
 def rem_libr_xml(zim_id, kiwix_library_xml):