diff --git a/scripts/update_species.sh b/scripts/update_species.sh
index 3989e73..954dd17 100755
--- a/scripts/update_species.sh
+++ b/scripts/update_species.sh
@@ -2,4 +2,6 @@
 # Update the species list
 #set -x
 source /etc/birdnet/birdnet.conf
+if [ -f $HOME/BirdNET-Pi/scripts/birds.db ];then
 sqlite3 $HOME/BirdNET-Pi/scripts/birds.db "SELECT DISTINCT(Com_Name) FROM detections" | sort >  ${IDFILE}
+fi