diff --git a/organize/util.py b/organize/util.py
index 6d97f0a..79a15eb 100644
--- a/organize/util.py
+++ b/organize/util.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #
-#  Copyright (c) 2013 Helmut Merz helmutm@cy55.de
+#  Copyright (c) 2017 Helmut Merz helmutm@cy55.de
 #
 #  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
 #  it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ def getGroupsForPrincipal(principal=None):
     if principal is None:
         principal = getCurrentPrincipal()
     gf = getGroupsFolder()
+    if gf is None:
+        return []
     prefix = 'gloops.'
     return [(g.startswith(prefix) and g[len(prefix):] or g)
             for g in gf.getGroupsForPrincipal(principal.id)]