diff --git a/deb/local.go b/deb/local.go
index 4be46076..e0da96f1 100644
--- a/deb/local.go
+++ b/deb/local.go
@@ -168,6 +168,8 @@ func (collection *LocalRepoCollection) Update(repo *LocalRepo) error {
 
 // LoadComplete loads additional information for local repo
 func (collection *LocalRepoCollection) LoadComplete(repo *LocalRepo) error {
+	repo.packageRefs = &PackageRefList{}
+
 	encoded, err := collection.db.Get(repo.RefKey())
 	if err == database.ErrNotFound {
 		return nil
@@ -176,7 +178,6 @@ func (collection *LocalRepoCollection) LoadComplete(repo *LocalRepo) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	repo.packageRefs = &PackageRefList{}
 	return repo.packageRefs.Decode(encoded)
 }
 
diff --git a/deb/reflist.go b/deb/reflist.go
index e559cad4..0a5c1831 100644
--- a/deb/reflist.go
+++ b/deb/reflist.go
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ func (l *PackageRefList) Decode(input []byte) error {
 
 // ForEach calls handler for each package ref in list
 func (l *PackageRefList) ForEach(handler func([]byte) error) error {
+	if l == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	var err error
 	for _, p := range l.Refs {
 		err = handler(p)