diff --git a/arduino-core/src/processing/app/helpers/FileUtils.java b/arduino-core/src/processing/app/helpers/FileUtils.java
index 5e30319dc..b668d545e 100644
--- a/arduino-core/src/processing/app/helpers/FileUtils.java
+++ b/arduino-core/src/processing/app/helpers/FileUtils.java
@@ -344,6 +344,9 @@ public class FileUtils {
   public static List<File> listFiles(File folder, boolean recursive,
                                      List<String> extensions) {
     List<File> result = new ArrayList<>();
+    if (!folder.exists()) {
+      return result;
+    }
 
     for (File file : folder.listFiles()) {
       if (isSCCSOrHiddenFile(file))