diff --git a/src/helma/framework/core/ZippedAppFile.java b/src/helma/framework/core/ZippedAppFile.java
index 2812968b..9ccf5fef 100644
--- a/src/helma/framework/core/ZippedAppFile.java
+++ b/src/helma/framework/core/ZippedAppFile.java
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public class ZippedAppFile implements Updatable {
      * the file has been modified or deleted.
      */
     public boolean needsUpdate () {
-	return lastmod != file.lastModified ();
+	return !file.exists () || lastmod != file.lastModified ();
     }