diff --git a/modules/services/static-sites/default.nix b/modules/services/static-sites/default.nix
index fbea786..7666e20 100644
--- a/modules/services/static-sites/default.nix
+++ b/modules/services/static-sites/default.nix
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ let
         ${copyPlugins}
         if [ -d content ]; then
           # Drop draft content before building (Pelican draft detection can be inconsistent).
-          grep -RIl '^status:[[:space:]]*draft' content | xargs -r rm -f
+          (grep -RIl '^status:[[:space:]]*draft' content || true) | xargs -r rm -f
         fi
         # nfc-web's `geohash` Pelican plugin imports `geohash_tools`, but that module
         # isn't shipped in the repo. Provide a tiny implementation at build time.