diff --git a/webapp_welcome.py b/webapp_welcome.py
index ec7a58370..087240f3a 100644
--- a/webapp_welcome.py
+++ b/webapp_welcome.py
@@ -51,8 +51,9 @@ def htmlWelcomeScreen(baseDir: str,
     welcomeFilename = baseDir + '/accounts/welcome.md'
     if not os.path.isfile(welcomeFilename):
         defaultFilename = baseDir + '/defaultwelcome/' + language + '.md'
-        if os.path.isfile(defaultFilename):
-            copyfile(defaultFilename, welcomeFilename)
+        if not os.path.isfile(defaultFilename):
+            defaultFilename = baseDir + '/defaultwelcome/en.md'
+        copyfile(defaultFilename, welcomeFilename)
     if os.path.isfile(welcomeFilename):
         with open(baseDir + '/accounts/welcome.md', 'r') as welcomeFile:
             welcomeText = markdownToHtml(welcomeFile.read())