diff --git a/libc/system_properties/system_properties.cpp b/libc/system_properties/system_properties.cpp
index 9dd5e35..1dedb61 100644
--- a/libc/system_properties/system_properties.cpp
+++ b/libc/system_properties/system_properties.cpp
@@ -120,14 +120,18 @@
     return false;
   }
 
-  auto* appcompat_contexts = new (appcompat_override_contexts_data_) ContextsSerialized();
   appcompat_filename_ = PropertiesFilename(properties_filename_.c_str(), "appcompat_override");
-  if (!appcompat_contexts->Initialize(true, appcompat_filename_.c_str(), fsetxattr_failed,
-                                      load_default_path)) {
-    appcompat_override_contexts_ = nullptr;
-    return false;
+  appcompat_override_contexts_ = nullptr;
+  if (access(appcompat_filename_.c_str(), F_OK) != -1) {
+    auto* appcompat_contexts = new (appcompat_override_contexts_data_) ContextsSerialized();
+    if (!appcompat_contexts->Initialize(true, appcompat_filename_.c_str(), fsetxattr_failed,
+                                        load_default_path)) {
+      // The appcompat folder exists, but initializing it failed
+      return false;
+    } else {
+      appcompat_override_contexts_ = appcompat_contexts;
+    }
   }
-  appcompat_override_contexts_ = appcompat_contexts;
 
   initialized_ = true;
   return true;