diff --git a/backend/tabby/settings.py b/backend/tabby/settings.py
index 34ad5b1..074446e 100644
--- a/backend/tabby/settings.py
+++ b/backend/tabby/settings.py
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ LOGGING = {
 }
 
 STATIC_URL = '/static/'
-STATICFILES_DIRS = [FRONTEND_BUILD_DIR]
+if FRONTEND_BUILD_DIR.exists():
+    STATICFILES_DIRS = [FRONTEND_BUILD_DIR]
 STATIC_ROOT = BASE_DIR / 'public'
 
 DEFAULT_AUTO_FIELD = 'django.db.models.BigAutoField'