diff --git a/hugolib/config.go b/hugolib/config.go
index 189b593e6..50e742bc2 100644
--- a/hugolib/config.go
+++ b/hugolib/config.go
@@ -112,4 +112,5 @@ func loadDefaultSettingsFor(v *viper.Viper) {
 	v.SetDefault("defaultContentLanguageInSubdir", false)
 	v.SetDefault("enableMissingTranslationPlaceholders", false)
 	v.SetDefault("enableGitInfo", false)
+	v.SetDefault("ignoreFiles", make([]string, 0))
 }