diff --git a/pad.go b/pad.go
index 037a1f3..1545b4f 100644
--- a/pad.go
+++ b/pad.go
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ func handleViewPad(app *App, w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) error {
 
 	if action == "" && slug == "" {
 		// Not editing any post; simply render the Pad
+		if templates[padTmpl] == nil {
+			log.Info("No template '%s' found. Falling back to default 'pad' template.", padTmpl)
+			padTmpl = "pad"
+		}
 		if err = templates[padTmpl].ExecuteTemplate(w, "pad", appData); err != nil {
 			log.Error("Unable to execute template: %v", err)
 		}