diff --git a/pelican/settings.py b/pelican/settings.py
index bc866494..1b32395c 100644
--- a/pelican/settings.py
+++ b/pelican/settings.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def read_settings(filename):
     # Make the paths relative to the settings file
     for path in ['PATH', 'OUTPUT_PATH']:
         if path in context:
-            if not os.path.isabs(context[path]):
+            if context[path] is not None and not os.path.isabs(context[path]):
                 context[path] = os.path.abspath(os.path.normpath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(filename), context[path])))
 
     # set the locale