diff --git a/lib/auth.js b/lib/auth.js
index 95b948f..264a3f2 100644
--- a/lib/auth.js
+++ b/lib/auth.js
@@ -60,7 +60,13 @@ function readXauthority(cb) {
     if(err.code == 'ENOENT') {
       // Xming/windows uses %HOME%/Xauthority ( .Xauthority with no dot ) - try with this name
       filename = process.env.XAUTHORITY || path.join(homedir(), 'Xauthority');
-      return fs.readFile(filename, cb);
+      fs.readFile(filename, function (err, data) {
+        if (err.code == 'ENOENT') {
+          cb(null, null);
+        } else {
+          cb(err);
+        }
+      });
     } else {
       cb(err);
     }
@@ -72,6 +78,13 @@ module.exports = function( display, host, cb )
   readXauthority(function(err, data) {
     if(err) return cb(err);
 
+    if (!data) {
+      return cb(null, {
+        authName: '',
+        authData: ''
+      });
+    }
+
     var auth = parseXauth(data);
     for (var cookieNum in auth)
     {