diff --git a/src/Commands/core/SiteInstallCommands.php b/src/Commands/core/SiteInstallCommands.php
index 8e0e122fbe..b0a2b13262 100644
--- a/src/Commands/core/SiteInstallCommands.php
+++ b/src/Commands/core/SiteInstallCommands.php
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public function install(array $recipeOrProfile, $options = ['db-url' => self::RE
         // Was giving error during validate() so its here for now.
         if ($options['existing-config']) {
             $existing_config_dir = Settings::get('config_sync_directory');
-            if (!is_dir($existing_config_dir)) {
+            if ($existing_config_dir === null || !is_dir($existing_config_dir)) {
                 throw new \Exception(dt('Existing config directory @dir not found', ['@dir' => $existing_config_dir]));
             }
             $this->logger()->info(dt('Installing from existing config at @dir', ['@dir' => $existing_config_dir]));