diff --git a/src/git.rs b/src/git.rs
index 620a658..a5c86e2 100644
--- a/src/git.rs
+++ b/src/git.rs
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ pub struct Category {
     /// map of all categories
     ///
     /// Key should conceptually be seen as the name of the category.
-    pub repos: HashMap<String, GitRepo>,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub repos: Option<HashMap<String, GitRepo>>,
 }
 
 /// Contain fields for a single link.
@@ -311,7 +312,7 @@ impl Config {
         F: Fn(&GitRepo),
     {
         for (_, category) in self.categories.iter() {
-            for (_, repo) in category.repos.iter() {
+            for (_, repo) in category.repos.as_ref().expect("failed to get repos").iter() {
                 f(repo);
             }
         }
@@ -326,7 +327,7 @@ impl Config {
         F: Fn(&GitRepo) -> bool,
     {
         for (_, category) in self.categories.iter() {
-            for (_, repo) in category.repos.iter() {
+            for (_, repo) in category.repos.as_ref().expect("failed to get repos").iter() {
                 let mut sp =
                     Spinner::new(Spinners::Dots10, format!("{}: {}", repo.name, op).into());
                 if f(repo) {
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ impl Config {
     /// ```
     pub fn series_on_all(&self, closures: Vec<SeriesItem>) {
         for (_, category) in self.categories.iter() {
-            for (_, repo) in category.repos.iter() {
+            for (_, repo) in category.repos.as_ref().expect("failed to get repos").iter() {
                 for instruction in closures.iter() {
                     let f = &instruction.closure;
                     let op = instruction.operation;
@@ -427,7 +428,7 @@ impl Config {
     /// ```
     pub fn all_on_all(&self, closures: Vec<SeriesItem>) {
         for (_, category) in self.categories.iter() {
-            for (_, repo) in category.repos.iter() {
+            for (_, repo) in category.repos.as_ref().expect("failed to get repos").iter() {
                 for instruction in closures.iter() {
                     let f = &instruction.closure;
                     let op = instruction.operation;
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 087e4fe..c886a5f 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ mod config {
     fn init_config_populate() {
         let default_category = Category {
             flags: Some(vec![]),
-            repos: HashMap::new(),
+            repos: Some(HashMap::new()),
         };
         let mut config = Config {
             categories: HashMap::new(),
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ mod config {
                 .get_mut(&format!("{}", 0).to_string())
                 .expect("category not found")
                 .repos
+                .as_mut()
+                .expect("failed to get repo")
                 .insert(
                     format!("{}", i).to_string(),
                     GitRepo {
@@ -196,6 +198,8 @@ mod config {
             .get(cat_name)
             .expect("failed to get category")
             .repos
+            .as_ref()
+            .expect("failed to get repo")
             .get(repo_name)
             .expect("failed to get category"))
     }
diff --git a/src/test/config.yaml b/src/test/config.yaml
index 91aa884..dc7960d 100644
--- a/src/test/config.yaml
+++ b/src/test/config.yaml
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ categories:
         path: /home/ces/org/src/git/
         url: git@github.com:cafkafk/li.git
         flags: [Clone, Push]
+  empty:
 links:
   - name: gg
     rx: /home/ces/.config/gg
diff --git a/src/test/test.yaml b/src/test/test.yaml
index 89fb77d..369371d 100644
--- a/src/test/test.yaml
+++ b/src/test/test.yaml
@@ -1,20 +1,5 @@
 categories:
-  utils:
-    repos:
-      gg:
-        name: gg
-        path: /home/ces/.dots/
-        url: git@github.com:cafkafk/gg.git
-        flags:
-        - Clone
-        - Push
-      li:
-        name: li
-        path: /home/ces/org/src/git/
-        url: git@github.com:cafkafk/li.git
-        flags:
-        - Clone
-        - Push
+  empty: {}
   config:
     flags: []
     repos:
@@ -32,6 +17,22 @@ categories:
         flags:
         - Clone
         - Push
+  utils:
+    repos:
+      li:
+        name: li
+        path: /home/ces/org/src/git/
+        url: git@github.com:cafkafk/li.git
+        flags:
+        - Clone
+        - Push
+      gg:
+        name: gg
+        path: /home/ces/.dots/
+        url: git@github.com:cafkafk/gg.git
+        flags:
+        - Clone
+        - Push
 links:
 - name: gg
   rx: /home/ces/.config/gg