diff --git a/src/helper_startup.py b/src/helper_startup.py
index 3cde6805..aaf71709 100644
--- a/src/helper_startup.py
+++ b/src/helper_startup.py
@@ -78,3 +78,9 @@ def loadConfig():
                     os.makedirs(shared.appdata)
             with open(shared.appdata + 'keys.dat', 'wb') as configfile:
                 shared.config.write(configfile)
+
+        # Initialize settings that may be missing due to upgrades and could
+        # cause errors if missing.
+        if not shared.config.has_option('bitmessagesettings', 'sockslisten'):
+            shared.config.set('bitmessagesettings', 'sockslisten', 'false')
+