diff --git a/hugolib/site.go b/hugolib/site.go
index 9f750c1a1..a8ca835ef 100644
--- a/hugolib/site.go
+++ b/hugolib/site.go
@@ -1312,6 +1312,7 @@ func (s *Site) RenderHomePage() error {
 	n.IsHome = false
 	n.Title = "404 Page not found"
 	n.Permalink = s.permalink("404.html")
+	n.scratch = newScratch()
 
 	nfLayouts := []string{"404.html"}
 	if nfErr := s.renderAndWritePage("404 page", "404.html", n, s.appendThemeTemplates(nfLayouts)...); nfErr != nil {