diff --git a/caddyhttp/httpserver/plugin.go b/caddyhttp/httpserver/plugin.go
index c1bd6a570..9faf5ac33 100644
--- a/caddyhttp/httpserver/plugin.go
+++ b/caddyhttp/httpserver/plugin.go
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ func init() {
 func hideCaddyfile(cctx caddy.Context) error {
 	ctx := cctx.(*httpContext)
 	for _, cfg := range ctx.siteConfigs {
+		// if no Caddyfile exists exit.
+		if cfg.originCaddyfile == "" {
+			return nil
+		}
 		absRoot, err := filepath.Abs(cfg.Root)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err