diff --git a/rengobot.py b/rengobot.py
index 510321e..1bae8c2 100644
--- a/rengobot.py
+++ b/rengobot.py
@@ -36,6 +36,11 @@ black_stone= "<:black_stone:882730888453046342>"
 with open("token.txt") as f:
     token = f.readlines()[0] # Get your own token and put it in token.txt
 
+
+if not os.path.exists("state.txt"):
+    with open("state.txt", "w") as f: 
+        f.write("[]")
+
 format="%Y_%m_%d_%H_%M_%S_%f"
 
 # The state is a list of tuples (channel_id, "queue"/"random", last_players, last_times, [black_queue, white_queue])
@@ -397,7 +402,7 @@ async def newgame(ctx, gametype, handicap=0, komi=6.5):
 
     # lowest effort serialization
     with open("state.txt") as f: 
-        state = eval(f.read())
+        state = ast.literal_eval(f.read())
 
 
     if channel_id in [ ch for (ch,_,_,_,_) in state]: