diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/create.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/create.py
index 1fcbb26f5d2..b9d6758af54 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/create.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/create.py
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ def get_versions(args, name):
         spack.util.url.require_url_format(args.url)
         if args.url.startswith('file://'):
             valid_url = False  # No point in spidering these
-    except ValueError:
+    except (ValueError, TypeError):
         valid_url = False
 
     if args.url is not None and args.template != 'bundle' and valid_url:
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/create.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/create.py
index e7d8d7f8e95..20059b35d4a 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/create.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/create.py
@@ -160,3 +160,9 @@ def _parse_name_offset(path, v):
         spack.cmd.create.get_name(args)
     captured = capsys.readouterr()
     assert "Couldn't guess a name" in str(captured)
+
+
+def test_no_url(parser):
+    """Test creation of package without a URL."""
+    args = parser.parse_args(['--skip-editor', '-n', 'create-new-package'])
+    spack.cmd.create.create(parser, args)