diff --git a/lib/server/readMetadata.js b/lib/server/readMetadata.js
index 10a7a9739e..8b83f203c2 100644
--- a/lib/server/readMetadata.js
+++ b/lib/server/readMetadata.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ const CWD = process.cwd();
 const path = require("path");
 const fs = require("fs");
 const glob = require("glob");
+const chalk = require("chalk");
 const siteConfig = require(CWD + "/siteConfig.js");
 const versionFallback = require("./versionFallback.js");
 
@@ -271,6 +272,13 @@ function generateBlogMetadata() {
   const metadatas = [];
 
   let files = glob.sync(CWD + "/blog/**/*.*");
+  if (!files || files.length == 0) {
+    console.error(
+      `${chalk.yellow(
+        CWD + "/blog/ appears to be empty"
+      )} Make sure you've put your blog files in your Docusaurus 'website' folder.`
+    );
+  }
   files.sort().reverse().forEach(file => {
     const extension = path.extname(file);
     if (extension !== ".md" && extension !== ".markdown") {