diff --git a/modules/lang/org/contrib/journal.el b/modules/lang/org/contrib/journal.el
index 5457d3274..b2b551e16 100644
--- a/modules/lang/org/contrib/journal.el
+++ b/modules/lang/org/contrib/journal.el
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     "Activate `org-journal-mode', maybe."
     (and (eq major-mode 'org-mode)
          (stringp buffer-file-name)
+         (stringp org-journal-file-pattern)
          (string-match-p org-journal-file-pattern buffer-file-name)
          (let ((org-mode-hook (remq '+org-journal-mode-maybe org-mode-hook)))
            (org-journal-mode))))
diff --git a/mytest b/mytest
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb