diff --git a/lib/mtl.js b/lib/mtl.js
index 529b6dd..941be7f 100644
--- a/lib/mtl.js
+++ b/lib/mtl.js
@@ -113,5 +113,6 @@ function parse(mtlPath) {
         })
         .catch(function() {
             console.log('Could not read material file at ' + mtlPath + '. Using default material instead.');
+            return {};
         });
 }