diff --git a/src/system/settings.cpp b/src/system/settings.cpp
index 5ea31f7a5..edeab92e1 100644
--- a/src/system/settings.cpp
+++ b/src/system/settings.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 */
 
 #include <cstring>
+#include <unistd.h>
 #include <system/settings.h>
 
 #include <zapit/settings.h>
@@ -186,6 +187,10 @@ bool CScanSettings::loadSettings(const char * const fileName)
 
 bool CScanSettings::saveSettings(const char * const fileName)
 {
+	// get sure we got initialized variables
+	if (access(fileName, R_OK) != 0)
+		loadSettings(fileName);
+
 	configfile.setInt32("bouquetMode", bouquetMode);
 	configfile.setInt32("scanType", scanType);