diff --git a/commands/new.go b/commands/new.go
index da2588fb4..56584260d 100644
--- a/commands/new.go
+++ b/commands/new.go
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ func doNewSite(basepath string, force bool) error {
 		filepath.Join(basepath, "archetypes"),
 		filepath.Join(basepath, "static"),
 		filepath.Join(basepath, "data"),
+		filepath.Join(basepath, "themes"),
 	}
 
 	if exists, _ := helpers.Exists(basepath, hugofs.SourceFs); exists {