diff --git a/misc/fuel/fuel-mode.el b/misc/fuel/fuel-mode.el
index 6f42b4efc4..98aad10e22 100644
--- a/misc/fuel/fuel-mode.el
+++ b/misc/fuel/fuel-mode.el
@@ -174,8 +174,11 @@ interacting with a factor listener is at your disposal.
   (setq fuel-stack-mode-string "/S")
   (when fuel-mode-stack-p (fuel-stack-mode fuel-mode))
 
-  (when (and fuel-mode (not (file-exists-p (buffer-file-name))))
-    (fuel-scaffold--maybe-insert)))
+  (let ((file-name (buffer-file-name)))
+    (when (and fuel-mode
+               file-name
+               (not (file-exists-p file-name)))
+      (fuel-scaffold--maybe-insert))))
 
 
 ;;; Keys: