diff --git a/NSLGameScanner.py b/NSLGameScanner.py
index 804bc78..f7b2f6b 100644
--- a/NSLGameScanner.py
+++ b/NSLGameScanner.py
@@ -197,17 +197,13 @@ def get_unsigned_shortcut_id(signed_shortcut_id):
 shortcuts_file = f"{logged_in_home}/.steam/root/userdata/{steamid3}/config/shortcuts.vdf"
 
 # Check if the file exists and is not executable
-if os.path.exists(shortcuts_file):
-    # Check if the file is not executable
-    if not os.access(shortcuts_file, os.X_OK):
-        print("The file exists but is not executable. Making it executable.")
-        # Set the file permissions to 755
-        os.chmod(shortcuts_file, 0o755)
+if os.path.exists(shortcuts_file) and not os.access(shortcuts_file, os.X_OK):
+    print("The file exists but is not executable. Writing empty shortcuts.")
     # Write {'shortcuts': {}} to the file
     with open(shortcuts_file, 'wb') as file:
         file.write(vdf.binary_dumps({'shortcuts': {}}))
     shortcuts = {'shortcuts': {}}
-else:
+elif os.path.exists(shortcuts_file):
     # Load the existing shortcuts
     with open(shortcuts_file, 'rb') as file:
         try:
@@ -215,6 +211,9 @@ def get_unsigned_shortcut_id(signed_shortcut_id):
         except Exception as e:
             print(f"Error reading file: {e}")
             shortcuts = {}
+else:
+    print("The file does not exist. Creating an empty shortcuts dictionary.")
+    shortcuts = {'shortcuts': {}}
 
 
 # Check if the 'shortcuts' key is in the loaded data