diff --git a/tests/syntax-tests/create_highlighted_versions.py b/tests/syntax-tests/create_highlighted_versions.py
index e7a37fdf..70e5048a 100755
--- a/tests/syntax-tests/create_highlighted_versions.py
+++ b/tests/syntax-tests/create_highlighted_versions.py
@@ -24,12 +24,15 @@ SKIP_FILENAMES = [
 
 
 def get_options(source):
-    source_dirpath = path.dirname(source)
     options = BAT_OPTIONS.copy()
+
+    source_dirpath = path.dirname(source)
     options_file = path.join(source_dirpath, "bat_options")
-    if path.exists(options_file):
+    try:
         with open(options_file, "r") as f:
             options += list(map(lambda x: x.rstrip(), f.readlines()))
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        pass
     return options