diff --git a/desktop/plugin-lib/src/__tests__/pluginInstaller.node.ts b/desktop/plugin-lib/src/__tests__/pluginInstaller.node.ts
index 5d239dacf..59fd8b50b 100644
--- a/desktop/plugin-lib/src/__tests__/pluginInstaller.node.ts
+++ b/desktop/plugin-lib/src/__tests__/pluginInstaller.node.ts
@@ -147,6 +147,12 @@ describe('pluginInstaller', () => {
     ]);
   });
 
+  test('getInstalledPlugins when no plugins installed', async () => {
+    await fs.remove(pluginInstallationDir);
+    const plugins = await getInstalledPlugins();
+    expect(plugins).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
   test('moveInstalledPluginsFromLegacyDir', async () => {
     await moveInstalledPluginsFromLegacyDir();
     expect(
diff --git a/desktop/plugin-lib/src/pluginInstaller.ts b/desktop/plugin-lib/src/pluginInstaller.ts
index 11ce2ec95..e3a214c46 100644
--- a/desktop/plugin-lib/src/pluginInstaller.ts
+++ b/desktop/plugin-lib/src/pluginInstaller.ts
@@ -215,6 +215,9 @@ type InstalledPluginVersionDirs = [string, string[]][];
 async function getInstalledPluginVersionDirs(): Promise<
   InstalledPluginVersionDirs
 > {
+  if (!(await fs.pathExists(pluginInstallationDir))) {
+    return [];
+  }
   return await fs
     .readdir(pluginInstallationDir)
     .then((dirs) => dirs.map((dir) => path.join(pluginInstallationDir, dir)))