diff --git a/src/zona/layout.py b/src/zona/layout.py
index f309dbd..9ee3b00 100644
--- a/src/zona/layout.py
+++ b/src/zona/layout.py
@@ -23,11 +23,12 @@ class Layout:
             output=(root / "public").resolve() if not output else output,
         )
         if validate:
-            for path in [layout.content, layout.templates]:
-                if not path.is_dir():
-                    raise FileNotFoundError(
-                        f"Missing required directory: {path}"
-                    )
+            if not layout.content.is_dir():
+                raise FileNotFoundError("Missing required content directory!")
+            if not layout.templates.is_dir():
+                # use the included defaults
+                layout.templates = util.get_resource_dir("templates")
+
         return layout
 
 
diff --git a/src/zona/util.py b/src/zona/util.py
index 3244249..823180f 100644
--- a/src/zona/util.py
+++ b/src/zona/util.py
@@ -25,6 +25,14 @@ def get_resources(subdir: str) -> list[ZonaResource]:
     return out
 
 
+def get_resource_dir(subdir: str) -> Path:
+    dir = resources.files("zona").joinpath(f"data/{subdir}")
+    with resources.as_file(dir) as path:
+        assert isinstance(path, Path)
+        assert path.is_dir()
+        return path
+
+
 def ensure_parents(target: Path):
     """Ensure the target's parent directories exist."""
     target.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)