diff --git a/src/csync/csync_exclude.cpp b/src/csync/csync_exclude.cpp
index 32b88616ce..1bb66b15d3 100644
--- a/src/csync/csync_exclude.cpp
+++ b/src/csync/csync_exclude.cpp
@@ -322,7 +322,11 @@ bool ExcludedFiles::loadExcludeFile(const QByteArray & basePath, const QString &
         csync_exclude_expand_escapes(line);
         _allExcludes[basePath].append(line);
     }
-    prepare(basePath);
+
+    // nothing to prepare if the user decided to not exclude anything
+    if(_allExcludes.size())
+        prepare(basePath);
+
     return true;
 }