diff --git a/src/app/qgswelcomepage.cpp b/src/app/qgswelcomepage.cpp
index a0a648926ba..1df4f31e423 100644
--- a/src/app/qgswelcomepage.cpp
+++ b/src/app/qgswelcomepage.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,8 @@ void QgsWelcomePage::templateProjectItemActivated( const QModelIndex &index )
 {
   if ( index.data( QgsProjectListItemDelegate::NativePathRole ).isNull() )
     QgisApp::instance()->newProject();
-  QgisApp::instance()->fileNewFromTemplate( index.data( QgsProjectListItemDelegate::NativePathRole ).toString() );
+  else
+    QgisApp::instance()->fileNewFromTemplate( index.data( QgsProjectListItemDelegate::NativePathRole ).toString() );
 }
 
 void QgsWelcomePage::versionInfoReceived()