diff --git a/workers/notificationworker/models_pre_oci.py b/workers/notificationworker/models_pre_oci.py
index b0703f83e..9e77f2e55 100644
--- a/workers/notificationworker/models_pre_oci.py
+++ b/workers/notificationworker/models_pre_oci.py
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ def notification(notification_row):
   """ Converts the given notification row into a notification tuple. """
   return Notification(uuid=notification_row.uuid, event_name=notification_row.event.name,
                       method_name=notification_row.method.name,
-                      event_config_dict=json.loads(notification_row.event_config_json or {}),
-                      method_config_dict=json.loads(notification_row.config_json or {}),
+                      event_config_dict=json.loads(notification_row.event_config_json or '{}'),
+                      method_config_dict=json.loads(notification_row.config_json or '{}'),
                       repository=Repository(notification_row.repository.namespace_user.username,
                                             notification_row.repository.name))