diff --git a/shell_integration/nautilus/syncstate.py b/shell_integration/nautilus/syncstate.py
index 000727a9514..2204f69b140 100644
--- a/shell_integration/nautilus/syncstate.py
+++ b/shell_integration/nautilus/syncstate.py
@@ -214,8 +214,8 @@ def get_file_items(self, window, files):
         # and we definitely don't want to show them for IGNORED.
         shareable = False
         state = entry['state']
-        state_ok = state.startswith('OK')
-        state_sync = state.startswith('SYNC')
+        state_ok = state and state.startswith('OK')
+        state_sync = state and state.startswith('SYNC')
         if state_ok:
             shareable = True
         elif state_sync and isDir: