diff --git a/reactbot/config.py b/reactbot/config.py
index 8cb9ba5..efbf9ae 100644
--- a/reactbot/config.py
+++ b/reactbot/config.py
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ class Config(BaseProxyConfig):
 
     def parse_data(self) -> None:
         self.default_flags = re.RegexFlag(0)
+        self.templates = {}
+        self.rules = {}
+
         self.default_flags = self._get_flags(self["default_flags"])
         self.templates = {name: self._make_template(name, tpl)
                           for name, tpl in self["templates"].items()}