diff --git a/lib/roo/excelx/shared.rb b/lib/roo/excelx/shared.rb
index bcd2c08b..f29ad070 100755
--- a/lib/roo/excelx/shared.rb
+++ b/lib/roo/excelx/shared.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ def initialize(dir, options = {})
       end
 
       def styles
-        @styles ||= Styles.new(File.join(@dir, 'roo_styles.xml'))
+        file_path = File.join(@dir, 'roo_styles.xml')
+        File.new(file_path, "a+") {} unless File.exists?(file_path)
+        @styles ||= Styles.new(file_path)
       end
 
       def shared_strings