diff --git a/detectmatelibrary_tests/test_utils/test_persistency_saver.py b/detectmatelibrary_tests/test_utils/test_persistency_saver.py
index f8aad6c7..c3df1448 100644
--- a/detectmatelibrary_tests/test_utils/test_persistency_saver.py
+++ b/detectmatelibrary_tests/test_utils/test_persistency_saver.py
@@ -223,6 +223,15 @@ def test_auto_load_on_init(self):
         PersistencySaver(p2, PersistencySaverConfig(path="memory://autoload/state", auto_load=True))
         assert "E1" in p2.get_events_seen()
 
+    def test_auto_load_on_init_no_state_starts_fresh(self):
+        # auto_load=True with no prior save must not crash but starts with empty state
+        p = EventPersistency(event_data_class=EventDataFrame)
+        cfg = PersistencySaverConfig(path="memory://autoload_no_prior_state/state", auto_load=True)
+        saver = PersistencySaver(p, cfg)
+        assert len(p.get_events_seen()) == 0
+        assert len(p.get_events_data()) == 0
+        assert saver is not None
+
 
 class TestPersistencySaverIntegration:
     def test_full_cycle_dataframe_backend(self):
diff --git a/src/detectmatelibrary/utils/persistency/persistency_saver.py b/src/detectmatelibrary/utils/persistency/persistency_saver.py
index 13db6e16..ff603c62 100644
--- a/src/detectmatelibrary/utils/persistency/persistency_saver.py
+++ b/src/detectmatelibrary/utils/persistency/persistency_saver.py
@@ -87,7 +87,10 @@ def __init__(self, persistency: EventPersistency, config: PersistencySaverConfig
             persistency.register_on_ingest(self._check_event_count)
 
         if config.auto_load:
-            self.load()
+            try:
+                self.load()
+            except PersistencyLoadError as e:
+                logger.info(f"PersistencySaver: auto_load enabled but no state found, start fresh.({e})")
 
     def save(self) -> None:
         """Write full EventPersistency state to storage.