diff --git a/modules/config/default/autoload/files.el b/modules/config/default/autoload/files.el
index 0125fc2cb..1dfecf078 100644
--- a/modules/config/default/autoload/files.el
+++ b/modules/config/default/autoload/files.el
@@ -54,4 +54,6 @@ If prefix ARG is non-nil, prompt for the search path."
   (interactive "P")
   (if arg
       (call-interactively #'projectile-discover-projects-in-directory)
-    (mapc #'projectile-discover-projects-in-directory projectile-project-search-path)))
+    (if projectile-project-search-path
+        (mapc #'projectile-discover-projects-in-directory projectile-project-search-path)
+      (user-error "`projectile-project-search-path' is empty; don't know where to search"))))