diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f7d1dbf3..c309d7a9 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- Made retrieval of organization setting `readers_can_create_discussions` optional as it's not available for empty organizations. ([#116](https://gitlab.eclipse.org/eclipsefdn/security/otterdog/-/issues/116))
 - Fixed resetting apply operation when running it on multiple organizations at the same time.
 - Fixed retrieving repository secrets for temporary private clone repositories.
 
diff --git a/otterdog/providers/github/web.py b/otterdog/providers/github/web.py
index abbbc15c..45e93cf7 100644
--- a/otterdog/providers/github/web.py
+++ b/otterdog/providers/github/web.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ def _retrieve_settings(self, org_id: str, included_keys: set[str], page: Page) -
 
             for setting_def in page_def:
                 setting = setting_def["name"]
+                optional = setting_def["optional"]
                 utils.print_trace(f"checking setting '{setting}'")
 
                 if setting not in included_keys:
@@ -115,6 +116,9 @@ def _retrieve_settings(self, org_id: str, included_keys: set[str], page: Page) -
                     utils.print_trace(f"retrieved setting for '{setting}' = '{value}'")
 
                 except Exception as e:
+                    if optional:
+                        continue
+
                     if utils.is_debug_enabled():
                         page_name = page_url.split("/")[-1]
                         screenshot_file = f"screenshot_{page_name}.png"
diff --git a/otterdog/resources/github-web-settings.jsonnet b/otterdog/resources/github-web-settings.jsonnet
index b923b2c7..cb8686e3 100644
--- a/otterdog/resources/github-web-settings.jsonnet
+++ b/otterdog/resources/github-web-settings.jsonnet
@@ -1,23 +1,25 @@
-local newInput(type, valueSelector, name, inputName = name) = {
+local newInput(type, valueSelector, name, inputName = name, optional = false) = {
   name: name,
   type: type,
+  optional: optional,
   preSelector: null,
   valueSelector: valueSelector,
   selector: 'input[type="%s"][name="%s"]' % [type, inputName],
   save: 'form:has(%s) button[type="submit"]' % self.selector
 };
 
-local newCheckbox(name, inputName = name) =
-  newInput('checkbox', 'checked', name, inputName);
+local newCheckbox(name, inputName = name, optional = false) =
+  newInput('checkbox', 'checked', name, inputName, optional);
 
-local newTextInput(name, inputName = name) =
-  newInput('text', 'value', name, inputName);
+local newTextInput(name, inputName = name, optional = false) =
+  newInput('text', 'value', name, inputName, optional);
 
-local newRadioInput(name, inputName = name) =
-  newInput('radio', 'value', name, inputName);
+local newRadioInput(name, inputName = name, optional = false) =
+  newInput('radio', 'value', name, inputName, optional);
 
-local newSelectMenuInput(name, inputName, saveInputName, preSelector = null) = {
+local newSelectMenuInput(name, inputName, saveInputName, preSelector = null, optional = false) = {
   name: name,
+  optional: optional,
   type: 'select-menu',
   preSelector: preSelector,
   valueSelector: 'innerText',
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ local newSelectMenuInput(name, inputName, saveInputName, preSelector = null) = {
     newCheckbox('members_can_change_repo_visibility'),
     newCheckbox('members_can_delete_repositories'),
     newCheckbox('members_can_delete_issues'),
-    newCheckbox('readers_can_create_discussions'),
+    newCheckbox('readers_can_create_discussions', optional = true),
     newCheckbox('members_can_create_teams')
   ],