diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/settings.py b/src/bitmessageqt/settings.py
index 8fe1ecba..011d38ed 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/settings.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/settings.py
@@ -22,6 +22,19 @@ from network.asyncore_pollchoose import set_rates
 from tr import _translate
 
 
+def getSOCKSProxyType(config):
+    """Get user socksproxytype setting from *config*"""
+    try:
+        result = ConfigParser.SafeConfigParser.get(
+            config, 'bitmessagesettings', 'socksproxytype')
+    except (ConfigParser.NoSectionError, ConfigParser.NoOptionError):
+        return
+    else:
+        if result.lower() in ('', 'none', 'false'):
+            result = None
+    return result
+
+
 class SettingsDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
     """The "Settings" dialog"""
     def __init__(self, parent=None, firstrun=False):
@@ -129,14 +142,9 @@ class SettingsDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
         self.checkBoxOnionOnly.setChecked(
             config.safeGetBoolean('bitmessagesettings', 'onionservicesonly'))
 
-        try:
-            # Get real value, not temporary
-            self._proxy_type = ConfigParser.SafeConfigParser.get(
-                config, 'bitmessagesettings', 'socksproxytype')
-        except (ConfigParser.NoSectionError, ConfigParser.NoOptionError):
-            self._proxy_type = 'none'
+        self._proxy_type = getSOCKSProxyType(config)
         self.comboBoxProxyType.setCurrentIndex(
-            0 if self._proxy_type == 'none'
+            0 if not self._proxy_type
             else self.comboBoxProxyType.findText(self._proxy_type))
         self.comboBoxProxyTypeChanged(self.comboBoxProxyType.currentIndex())
 
@@ -330,7 +338,7 @@ class SettingsDialog(QtGui.QDialog):
 
         proxytype_index = self.comboBoxProxyType.currentIndex()
         if proxytype_index == 0:
-            if self._proxy_type != 'none' and shared.statusIconColor != 'red':
+            if self._proxy_type and shared.statusIconColor != 'red':
                 self.net_restart_needed = True
         elif self.comboBoxProxyType.currentText() != self._proxy_type:
             self.net_restart_needed = True
diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/support.py b/src/bitmessageqt/support.py
index 2a1ddb18..d6d4543d 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/support.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/support.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ from openclpow import openclAvailable, openclEnabled
 import paths
 import proofofwork
 from pyelliptic.openssl import OpenSSL
+from settings import getSOCKSProxyType
 import queues
 import network.stats
 import state
@@ -118,8 +119,7 @@ def createSupportMessage(myapp):
         BMConfigParser().safeGet('bitmessagesettings', 'opencl')
     ) if openclEnabled() else "None"
     locale = getTranslationLanguage()
-    socks = BMConfigParser().safeGet(
-        'bitmessagesettings', 'socksproxytype', "N/A")
+    socks = getSOCKSProxyType(BMConfigParser()) or "N/A"
     upnp = BMConfigParser().safeGet('bitmessagesettings', 'upnp', "N/A")
     connectedhosts = len(network.stats.connectedHostsList())