diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0ff429c..547efb7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/).
 
+## [Unreleased]
+### Fixed
+ - Fix Protontricks crash when custom Proton has an empty `compatibilitytool.vdf` manifest
+
 ## [1.11.0] - 2023-12-30
 ### Added
  - Show app icons for custom shortcuts in the app selector
diff --git a/src/protontricks/steam.py b/src/protontricks/steam.py
index cabdd7e..403ef39 100644
--- a/src/protontricks/steam.py
+++ b/src/protontricks/steam.py
@@ -1007,6 +1007,14 @@ def get_custom_compat_tool_installations_in_dir(compat_tool_dir):
             )
             continue
 
+        if not vdf_data:
+            logger.warning(
+                "Compatibility tool declaration at %s is empty. You may need "
+                "to reinstall the application.",
+                vdf_path
+            )
+            continue
+
         # Traverse to 'compatibilitytools/compat_tools' in a case-insensitive
         # way. This is done because we can't turn all keys recursively to
         # lowercase from the get-go; the app name is stored as a key.
diff --git a/tests/test_steam.py b/tests/test_steam.py
index 24ee3b4..f990334 100644
--- a/tests/test_steam.py
+++ b/tests/test_steam.py
@@ -741,16 +741,24 @@ def test_get_steam_apps_custom_proton_empty_toolmanifest(
             "Tool manifest for Custom Proton is empty"
         )
 
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize(
+        "content,error",
+        [
+            (b"corrupted", " is corrupted. "),
+            (b"", " is empty. ")  # Regression test for #241
+        ]
+    )
     def test_get_steam_apps_custom_proton_corrupted_compatibilitytool(
-            self, custom_proton_factory, steam_dir, steam_root, caplog):
+            self, custom_proton_factory, steam_dir, steam_root, caplog,
+            content, error):
         """
         Create a custom Proton installation with a corrupted
         compatibilitytool.vdf and ensure a warning is printed and the app
         is ignored
         """
         custom_proton = custom_proton_factory(name="Custom Proton")
-        (custom_proton.install_path / "compatibilitytool.vdf").write_text(
-            "corrupted"
+        (custom_proton.install_path / "compatibilitytool.vdf").write_bytes(
+            content
         )
 
         steam_apps = get_steam_apps(
@@ -774,9 +782,7 @@ def test_get_steam_apps_custom_proton_corrupted_compatibilitytool(
             if record.levelname == "WARNING"
         )
 
-        assert record.getMessage().startswith(
-            "Compatibility tool declaration at"
-        )
+        assert error in record.getMessage()
 
     def test_get_steam_apps_in_library_folder(
             self, default_proton, steam_library_factory, steam_app_factory,