diff --git a/plinth/modules/config/__init__.py b/plinth/modules/config/__init__.py
index b3ee55574..c2ebd046a 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/config/__init__.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/config/__init__.py
@@ -105,6 +105,12 @@ def get_hostname():
 
 def home_page_url2scid(url):
     """Return the shortcut ID of the given home page url."""
+    # url is None when the freedombox-apache-homepage configuration file does
+    # not exist. In this case, the default redirect in /plinth from the shipped
+    # configuration file is effective.
+    if url is None:
+        return 'plinth'
+
     if url in ('/plinth/', '/plinth', 'plinth'):
         return 'plinth'
 
diff --git a/plinth/modules/config/tests/test_config.py b/plinth/modules/config/tests/test_config.py
index 265512e25..d03adc412 100644
--- a/plinth/modules/config/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/plinth/modules/config/tests/test_config.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ def test_domainname_field():
 def test_homepage_mapping():
     """Basic tests for homepage functions."""
     func = home_page_url2scid
-    assert func(None) is None
+    assert func(None) == 'plinth'
     assert func('/unknown/url') is None
     assert func('/plinth/') == 'plinth'
     assert func('/plinth') == 'plinth'