diff --git a/src/articFileUtils.py b/src/articFileUtils.py
index e779131..015879c 100644
--- a/src/articFileUtils.py
+++ b/src/articFileUtils.py
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ def __init__(self, path, readIt = False):
         self.path = path
         if readIt:
             self.readFile()
+        else:
+            lines = []
     
     def readFile(self):
         filePointer = open (self.path, "r")
@@ -49,4 +51,4 @@ def modifyLine(self, lineNumber, line):
         self.lines[lineNumber] = line
         
     def lineCount(self):
-        return len(self.lines)
\ No newline at end of file
+        return len(self.lines)