diff --git a/AppScaffolding/AppScaffolding.csproj b/AppScaffolding/AppScaffolding.csproj
index 7349b2a6..3910d142 100644
--- a/AppScaffolding/AppScaffolding.csproj
+++ b/AppScaffolding/AppScaffolding.csproj
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
   <PropertyGroup>
     <TargetFramework>net6.0</TargetFramework>
-    <Version>6.7.5.1</Version>
+    <Version>6.7.6.2</Version>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
   <ItemGroup>
diff --git a/LibationFileManager/TagsPersistence.cs b/LibationFileManager/TagsPersistence.cs
index d04f2fcc..add10407 100644
--- a/LibationFileManager/TagsPersistence.cs
+++ b/LibationFileManager/TagsPersistence.cs
@@ -54,11 +54,17 @@ namespace LibationFileManager
 
 		private static void ensureCache()
 		{
-			if (cache is null)
-				lock (locker)
-					cache = !File.Exists(TagsFile)
-						? new Dictionary<string, string>()
-						: JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, string>>(File.ReadAllText(TagsFile));
+			if (cache is not null)
+				return;
+
+			lock (locker)
+			{
+				if (File.Exists(TagsFile))
+					cache = JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<Dictionary<string, string>>(File.ReadAllText(TagsFile));
+
+				// if file doesn't exist. or if file is corrupt and deserialize returns null
+				cache ??= new Dictionary<string, string>();
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }