diff --git a/bin/update-backlinks b/bin/update-backlinks
index f405694..6d92f9b 100755
--- a/bin/update-backlinks
+++ b/bin/update-backlinks
@@ -137,6 +137,12 @@ def test_has_placeholder():
 
 
 def inject_backlinks(lines, parts):
+    try:
+        index = lines.index("__BACKLINKS__")
+        lines[index] = "__BACKLINKS__\n"
+    except ValueError:
+        pass
+
     try:
         index = lines.index("__BACKLINKS__\n")
         lines[index] = "".join(parts)