diff --git a/lib/commands/sync.js b/lib/commands/sync.js
index 9fcd516..6dbfa74 100644
--- a/lib/commands/sync.js
+++ b/lib/commands/sync.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ module.exports = {
     debug('Reading archive in dir', opts.dir)
 
     Dat(opts.dir, opts, function (err, dat) {
-      if (err && err.indexOf('No existing') === -1) return exit(err)
+      if (err && err.message && err.message.indexOf('No existing') === -1) return exit(err)
       else if (err || !dat.resumed) return exit('No existing archive. Please use `dat create` or `dat clone` first.')
       if (dat.owner) debug('Archive owner, syncing local updates to network')
       else debug('Not archive owner, syncing remote updates')