diff --git a/api/data.json b/api/data.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9170d2aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/data.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"timetableData":{},"courseWarnings":[],"lastUpdated":0}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/src/load-data.ts b/api/src/load-data.ts
index 35be3eb3..c252673e 100644
--- a/api/src/load-data.ts
+++ b/api/src/load-data.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ const loadData = (eventType?: string) => {
   }
 };
 
+if (!fs.existsSync(dataLocation)) {
+  fs.writeFileSync(dataLocation, JSON.stringify(data));
+}
+
 fs.watch(dataLocation, loadData);
 
 loadData();