diff --git a/basis/vocabs/metadata/resources/resources.factor b/basis/vocabs/metadata/resources/resources.factor
index 1da15f6b9e..e37bdc273f 100644
--- a/basis/vocabs/metadata/resources/resources.factor
+++ b/basis/vocabs/metadata/resources/resources.factor
@@ -21,4 +21,5 @@ PRIVATE>
     ] with-directory-tree-files ;
 
 : vocab-resource-files ( vocab -- filenames )
-    dup vocab-resources expand-vocab-resource-files ;
+    dup vocab-resources
+    [ drop f ] [ expand-vocab-resource-files ] if-empty ;