diff --git a/frontend/util.lua b/frontend/util.lua
index c93084425..f6d54c8ee 100644
--- a/frontend/util.lua
+++ b/frontend/util.lua
@@ -699,7 +699,8 @@ function util.findFiles(dir, cb)
         if not ok then return end
         for f in iter, dir_obj do
             local path = current.."/"..f
-            local attr = lfs.attributes(path)
+            -- lfs can return nil here, as it will follow symlinks!
+            local attr = lfs.attributes(path) or {}
             if attr.mode == "directory" then
                 if f ~= "." and f ~= ".." then
                     scan(path)