diff --git a/frappe/www/desk.py b/frappe/www/desk.py
index 8de09b3720..9924108b11 100644
--- a/frappe/www/desk.py
+++ b/frappe/www/desk.py
@@ -85,4 +85,9 @@ def get_desk_assets(build_version):
 	}
 
 def get_build_version():
-	return str(os.path.getmtime(os.path.join(frappe.local.sites_path, '.build')))
+	try:
+		return str(os.path.getmtime(os.path.join(frappe.local.sites_path, '.build')))
+	except OSError:
+		# .build can sometimes not exist
+		# this is not a major problem so send fallback
+		return frappe.utils.random_string(8)