diff --git a/smartvisu/__init__.py b/smartvisu/__init__.py
index e83c4775e..4566940b9 100755
--- a/smartvisu/__init__.py
+++ b/smartvisu/__init__.py
@@ -125,8 +125,8 @@ def __init__(self, sh):
 
     def run(self):
         self.alive = True
-        # skip directory handling if generate pages and handle_widgets are disabled
-        if self.smartvisu_dir != '' and (self._generate_pages or self._handle_widgets):
+        # skip directory handling if all relevant handling options are disabled
+        if self.smartvisu_dir != '' and (self._generate_pages or self._handle_widgets or self._create_masteritem_file):
             if not os.path.isdir(os.path.join(self.smartvisu_dir, 'pages')):
                 self.logger.error("Could not find valid smartVISU directory: {}".format(self.smartvisu_dir))
             else: