diff --git a/Program.cs b/Program.cs
index a3b4d6b..ccb6961 100644
--- a/Program.cs
+++ b/Program.cs
@@ -25,10 +25,12 @@ var name = Console.ReadLine() ?? "";
 
 var hs = new HighScore { Name = name, Trials = trials };
 
-List<HighScore> highScores = null;
+List<HighScore>? highScores = null;
 const string FileName = "highscores.json";
 if (File.Exists(FileName))
-    highScores = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<HighScore>>(File.ReadAllText(FileName));
+    highScores =
+        JsonSerializer.Deserialize<List<HighScore>>(File.ReadAllText(FileName))
+        ?? new List<HighScore>();
 
 if (highScores == null)
     highScores = new List<HighScore>();