diff --git a/templates/zerver/policies_minimal/privacy.md b/templates/zerver/policies_minimal/privacy.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5d35b19914
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/zerver/policies_minimal/privacy.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This is the custom privacy policy.
diff --git a/templates/zerver/policies_minimal/terms.md b/templates/zerver/policies_minimal/terms.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f457f38e7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/zerver/policies_minimal/terms.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+These are the custom terms and conditions.
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_docs.py b/zerver/tests/test_docs.py
index b34b268112..9b65d5898e 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_docs.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_docs.py
@@ -694,6 +694,10 @@ class PrivacyTermsTest(ZulipTestCase):
             response = self.client_get("/policies/terms")
         self.assert_in_response(not_configured_message, response)
 
+        with self.settings(POLICIES_DIRECTORY="zerver/policies_minimal"):
+            response = self.client_get("/policies/terms")
+        self.assert_in_success_response(["These are the custom terms and conditions."], response)
+
         with self.settings(POLICIES_DIRECTORY="corporate/policies"):
             response = self.client_get("/policies/terms")
         self.assert_in_success_response(["Kandra Labs"], response)
@@ -704,6 +708,10 @@ class PrivacyTermsTest(ZulipTestCase):
             response = self.client_get("/policies/privacy")
         self.assert_in_response(not_configured_message, response)
 
+        with self.settings(POLICIES_DIRECTORY="zerver/policies_minimal"):
+            response = self.client_get("/policies/privacy")
+        self.assert_in_success_response(["This is the custom privacy policy."], response)
+
         with self.settings(POLICIES_DIRECTORY="corporate/policies"):
             response = self.client_get("/policies/privacy")
         self.assert_in_success_response(["Kandra Labs"], response)
diff --git a/zerver/views/documentation.py b/zerver/views/documentation.py
index 682e5fe2ea..a690f4f6f0 100644
--- a/zerver/views/documentation.py
+++ b/zerver/views/documentation.py
@@ -182,7 +182,10 @@ class MarkdownDirectoryView(ApiURLView):
             context["doc_root"] = "/policies/"
             context["doc_root_title"] = "Terms and policies"
             sidebar_article = self.get_path("sidebar_index")
-            sidebar_index = sidebar_article.article_path
+            if sidebar_article.article_http_status == 200:
+                sidebar_index = sidebar_article.article_path
+            else:
+                sidebar_index = None
             title_base = "Zulip terms and policies"
         elif self.api_doc_view:
             context["page_is_api_center"] = True
@@ -234,7 +237,10 @@ class MarkdownDirectoryView(ApiURLView):
         if endpoint_name and endpoint_method:
             context["api_url_context"]["API_ENDPOINT_NAME"] = endpoint_name + ":" + endpoint_method
 
-        sidebar_html = render_markdown_path(sidebar_index)
+        if sidebar_index is not None:
+            sidebar_html = render_markdown_path(sidebar_index)
+        else:
+            sidebar_html = ""
         tree = html.fragment_fromstring(sidebar_html, create_parent=True)
         if not context.get("page_is_policy_center", False):
             home_h1 = Element("h1")