diff --git a/src/main/java/com/crowdin/cli/properties/PropertiesWithTargets.java b/src/main/java/com/crowdin/cli/properties/PropertiesWithTargets.java
index bf2455579..4f9c65438 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/crowdin/cli/properties/PropertiesWithTargets.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/crowdin/cli/properties/PropertiesWithTargets.java
@@ -34,6 +34,9 @@ public void populateWithValues(PropertiesWithTargets props, Map<String, Object>
 
         @Override
         public void populateWithDefaultValues(PropertiesWithTargets props) {
+            if (props.getTargets() == null) {
+                throw new RuntimeException(RESOURCE_BUNDLE.getString("error.configuration_file_not_exist"));
+            }
             for (TargetBean tb : props.getTargets()) {
                 TargetBean.CONFIGURATOR.populateWithDefaultValues(tb);
             }