diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index eff8afa..80f6f98 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -258,6 +258,7 @@ easily template and generate HTML. The web server is provided by
 
 The default template search path is `index.html.j2` in the current working
 directory. This can be configured through the usual configuration entrypoints.
+It is possible to use the template without the built-in server too!
 
 Here's a small example that renders a random ASCII letter and uses a stylesheet.
 
diff --git a/xbotlib.py b/xbotlib.py
index 329151b..32fa91b 100644
--- a/xbotlib.py
+++ b/xbotlib.py
@@ -490,11 +490,7 @@ class Bot(ClientXMPP):
         self.no_auto_join = no_auto_join
         self.port = port
         self.serve_web = serve_web
-
-        self.template = None
-        if self.serve_web:
-            self.template = self.load_template(template)
-
+        self.template = self.load_template(template)
         self.storage = storage
         self.output = Path(output).absolute()