diff --git a/commands/edit_entry/git_utils.py b/commands/edit_entry/git_utils.py
index 7aecd92..9db870d 100644
--- a/commands/edit_entry/git_utils.py
+++ b/commands/edit_entry/git_utils.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def create_pull_request(
             commit_msg=f"Modified translation for: lang={lang}, entry_id={entry_id}, field={field}",
             new_contents=new_json_contents_str,
         )
-    except UnknownObjectException:
+    except (UnknownObjectException, AttributeError):
         # file doesn't exist, create and commit a new one
         # ! Note that this immediately commits the new file!
         json_file = WEBSITE_REPO.create_file(
diff --git a/commands/edit_entry/github_pullrequest.py b/commands/edit_entry/github_pullrequest.py
index 984ad2f..3fd7746 100644
--- a/commands/edit_entry/github_pullrequest.py
+++ b/commands/edit_entry/github_pullrequest.py
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ async def modify_json_and_create_pull_request(
     # *   take the english version and blank everything out
     if not the_file:
         the_json = await get_blank_json()
-
-    # * at this point, it's a valid json
-    the_json = json.loads(the_file.decoded_content.decode())
+    else:
+        # * at this point, it's a valid json
+        the_json = json.loads(the_file.decoded_content.decode())
     # print("Modifying the json to reflect the changes...")
     if field == "links":
         proposed_text = process_list(proposed_text)