diff --git a/lisp/init-ivy.el b/lisp/init-ivy.el
index 822bac444e..5453b6bb08 100644
--- a/lisp/init-ivy.el
+++ b/lisp/init-ivy.el
@@ -43,7 +43,9 @@
     (defun sanityinc/counsel-ag-project (initial-input)
       "Search using `counsel-ag' from the project root for INITIAL-INPUT."
       (interactive (list (thing-at-point 'symbol)))
-      (counsel-ag initial-input (projectile-project-root)))
+      (counsel-ag initial-input (condition-case err
+                                    (projectile-project-root)
+                                  (error default-directory))))
     (global-set-key (kbd "M-?") 'sanityinc/counsel-ag-project)))