diff --git a/QtPyLoT.py b/QtPyLoT.py
index 0dbfeff2..7530ed40 100755
--- a/QtPyLoT.py
+++ b/QtPyLoT.py
@@ -173,6 +173,8 @@ class MainWindow(QMainWindow):
         self.fnames = None
         self._stime = None
         structure_setting = settings.value("data/Structure", "PILOT")
+        if not structure_setting:
+            structure_setting = 'PILOT'
         self.dataStructure = DATASTRUCTURE[structure_setting]()
         self.seismicPhase = str(settings.value("phase", "P"))
         if settings.value("data/dataRoot", None) is None: