diff --git a/doom/.config/doom/README.org b/doom/.config/doom/README.org
index a769688..896dce3 100644
--- a/doom/.config/doom/README.org
+++ b/doom/.config/doom/README.org
@@ -3579,8 +3579,9 @@ Saves only project bookmarks without contaminating global list."
            (saved-alist (copy-tree bookmark-alist)))
       ;; Save globals first, then load project bookmarks
       (bookmark-save)
-      (when (file-exists-p proj-file)
-        (bookmark-load proj-file t))
+      (if (file-exists-p proj-file)
+          (bookmark-load proj-file t)
+        (setq bookmark-alist nil))
       (bookmark-store name `((filename . ,url)) nil)
       (bookmark-save nil proj-file)
       ;; Restore globals
@@ -3620,9 +3621,10 @@ Project bookmarks go to .bookmarks file in project root."
                   (record (bookmark-make-record)))
              ;; Save current globals to disk first
              (bookmark-save)
-             ;; Load existing .bookmarks (if any)
-             (when (file-exists-p proj-file)
-               (bookmark-load proj-file t))
+             ;; Load or init project bookmark alist
+             (if (file-exists-p proj-file)
+                 (bookmark-load proj-file t)
+               (setq bookmark-alist nil))
              ;; Add new bookmark to alist
              (bookmark-store name (cdr record) nil)
              ;; Write ONLY project bookmarks to .bookmarks
diff --git a/doom/.config/doom/config.el b/doom/.config/doom/config.el
index c865adb..211c1b9 100644
--- a/doom/.config/doom/config.el
+++ b/doom/.config/doom/config.el
@@ -2649,8 +2649,9 @@ Saves only project bookmarks without contaminating global list."
            (saved-alist (copy-tree bookmark-alist)))
       ;; Save globals first, then load project bookmarks
       (bookmark-save)
-      (when (file-exists-p proj-file)
-        (bookmark-load proj-file t))
+      (if (file-exists-p proj-file)
+          (bookmark-load proj-file t)
+        (setq bookmark-alist nil))
       (bookmark-store name `((filename . ,url)) nil)
       (bookmark-save nil proj-file)
       ;; Restore globals
@@ -2690,9 +2691,10 @@ Project bookmarks go to .bookmarks file in project root."
                   (record (bookmark-make-record)))
              ;; Save current globals to disk first
              (bookmark-save)
-             ;; Load existing .bookmarks (if any)
-             (when (file-exists-p proj-file)
-               (bookmark-load proj-file t))
+             ;; Load or init project bookmark alist
+             (if (file-exists-p proj-file)
+                 (bookmark-load proj-file t)
+               (setq bookmark-alist nil))
              ;; Add new bookmark to alist
              (bookmark-store name (cdr record) nil)
              ;; Write ONLY project bookmarks to .bookmarks