diff --git a/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/gis_document.py b/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/gis_document.py
index e8e672bc9..dbdc38ef3 100644
--- a/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/gis_document.py
+++ b/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/gis_document.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import json
 import logging
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, Dict, List, Literal, Optional, Union
 from uuid import uuid4
@@ -63,6 +64,11 @@ def __init__(
 
         comm_metadata = GISDocument._path_to_comm(path)
 
+        # Create an empty project file if it does not exist
+        if comm_metadata["path"] and not os.path.isfile(comm_metadata["path"]):
+            with open(comm_metadata["path"], "w") as fd:
+                fd.write("{}")
+
         ydoc = Doc()
 
         super().__init__(
diff --git a/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/tests/test_api.py b/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/tests/test_api.py
index d6a6dc5c5..6a0a3476c 100644
--- a/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/python/jupytergis_lab/jupytergis_lab/notebook/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1,8 +1,26 @@
+import os
 import unittest
 
 from jupytergis_lab import GISDocument
 
 
+class ProjectCreation(unittest.TestCase):
+    filename = "test.jgis"
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        if os.path.isfile(self.filename):
+            os.remove(self.filename)
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        if os.path.isfile(self.filename):
+            os.remove(self.filename)
+
+    def test_creation(self):
+        self.doc = GISDocument(self.filename)
+
+        assert os.path.isfile(self.filename)
+
+
 class VectorTileTests(unittest.TestCase):
     def setUp(self):
         self.doc = GISDocument()