diff --git a/src/config.py b/src/config.py
index ebd7b18f6..f98abc9d5 100644
--- a/src/config.py
+++ b/src/config.py
@@ -34,12 +34,17 @@ This package implements access to GRAMPS configuration.
 #
 #---------------------------------------------------------------
 import os
-import ast
 import time
 import ConfigParser
 import errno
 from gettext import gettext as _
 
+try:
+    from ast import literal_eval as safe_eval
+except:
+    # not safe, but works:
+    safe_eval = eval
+
 #---------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # Gramps imports
@@ -177,8 +182,8 @@ class ConfigManager(object):
                             continue # with next setting
                     ####################### End upgrade code
                     else:
-                        # a simple eval (does not eval expressions):
-                        value = ast.literal_eval(setting)
+                        # as safe as we can be:
+                        value = safe_eval(setting)
                     ####################### Now, let's test and set:
                     if opt.lower() in self.default[name]:
                         if type(value) == type(self.default[name][opt.lower()]):