diff --git a/devel/own-projects/release-on-github.sh b/devel/own-projects/release-on-github.sh
index f55adc74..f513aecf 100755
--- a/devel/own-projects/release-on-github.sh
+++ b/devel/own-projects/release-on-github.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ do
     echo "NEXT: $project -> $version"
 
     # check whether CMakeLists.txt has been updated
-    cmake_lists=$(wget -qO- "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/$gh_user/$gh_name/master/CMakeLists.txt")
+    cmake_lists=$(wget -qO- "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/$gh_user/$gh_name/master/CMakeLists.txt" || echo -n '')
     major_version_regex='set\(META_VERSION_MAJOR ([^\)]*)\)'
     minor_version_regex='set\(META_VERSION_MINOR ([^\)]*)\)'
     patch_version_regex='set\(META_VERSION_PATCH ([^\)]*)\)'