diff --git a/lib/util/cache/repository/index.ts b/lib/util/cache/repository/index.ts
index 395316808c4594..4ca55197b73d35 100644
--- a/lib/util/cache/repository/index.ts
+++ b/lib/util/cache/repository/index.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export async function initialize(config: RenovateConfig): Promise<void> {
     logger.debug({ cacheFileName }, 'Read repository cache');
   } catch (err) {
     logger.debug({ cacheFileName }, 'No repository cache found');
+    cache = {};
   }
 }