diff --git a/webnotes/webutils.py b/webnotes/webutils.py
index 907cd34fc2..8debe0ed2f 100644
--- a/webnotes/webutils.py
+++ b/webnotes/webutils.py
@@ -117,8 +117,18 @@ def get_standard_pages():
 	return webnotes.get_config()["web"]["pages"].keys()
 	
 def prepare_args(page_name):
+
+	has_app = True
+	try:
+		from startup.webutils import update_template_args, get_home_page
+	except ImportError:
+		has_app = False
+
 	if page_name == 'index':
-		page_name = get_home_page()
+		if has_app:
+			page_name = get_home_page()
+		else:
+			page_name = "login"
 	
 	pages = get_page_settings()
 	
@@ -136,7 +146,9 @@ def prepare_args(page_name):
 			bean = webnotes.bean(page_info["args_doctype"])
 			bean.run_method("onload")
 			args.obj = bean.make_controller()
-			
+
+		if has_app:
+			update_template_args(page_name, args)
 
 	else:
 		args = get_doc_fields(page_name)
@@ -144,11 +156,6 @@ def prepare_args(page_name):
 	if not args:
 		return False
 	
-	try:
-		from startup.webutils import update_template_args
-		update_template_args(page_name, args)
-	except ImportError:
-		pass
 	
 	return args