diff --git a/plugin.py b/plugin.py
index f159aae..4541137 100644
--- a/plugin.py
+++ b/plugin.py
@@ -141,6 +141,11 @@ class XEP_0384(BasePlugin):
                      "is not available")
             return
 
+        if not self.data_dir:
+            log.info("xep_0384 canoot be loaded as there is not data directory "
+                     "specified")
+            return None
+
         storage = SyncFileStorage(self.data_dir)
         otpkpolicy = KeepingOTPKPolicy()
         self._omemo_backend = SignalBackend