diff --git a/render.py b/render.py
index 7cea153..72d5bc6 100644
--- a/render.py
+++ b/render.py
@@ -811,9 +811,15 @@ def load_defaults(options):
     if os.path.exists(path):
         with open(path) as fd:
             defaults = json.load(fd)
-        for key in defaults:
-            if key not in options:
-                options[key] = defaults[key]
+    else:
+        print("no defaults defined at %s" % path)
+        defaults = {
+            "lang": "en",
+            "censored": None
+        }
+    for key in defaults:
+        if key not in options:
+            options[key] = defaults[key]
     return options