diff --git a/config/definitions.py b/config/definitions.py
index bcf1662..9701e61 100644
--- a/config/definitions.py
+++ b/config/definitions.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ MIN_DOWNLOAD_SPEED              = get_config_value('MIN_DOWNLOAD_SPEED',
 PERMITTED_ATTEMPTS              = get_config_value('PERMITTED_ATTEMPTS',            'features',     False,  int,    3)
 NO_STALLED_REMOVAL_QBIT_TAG     = get_config_value('NO_STALLED_REMOVAL_QBIT_TAG',   'features',     False,  str,   'Don\'t Kill')
 IGNORE_PRIVATE_TRACKERS         = get_config_value('IGNORE_PRIVATE_TRACKERS',       'features',     False,  bool,   True)
-FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS  = get_config_value('FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS','features',     False,  list,   '[]')
+FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS  = get_config_value('FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS','features',     False,  list,   [])
 
 # Radarr
 RADARR_URL                      = get_config_value('RADARR_URL',                    'radarr',       False,  str)
diff --git a/config/parser.py b/config/parser.py
index c530a24..a17626a 100644
--- a/config/parser.py
+++ b/config/parser.py
@@ -67,7 +67,8 @@ def get_config_value(key, config_section, is_mandatory, datatype, default_value
         if datatype == bool:
             config_value = eval(str(config_value).capitalize())
         elif datatype == list:
-            config_value = json.loads(config_value)
+            if type(config_value) != list: # Default value is already a list, doesn't need to be pushed through json.loads
+                config_value = json.loads(config_value)
         elif config_value is not None: 
             config_value = cast(config_value, datatype)
     except Exception as e: 
diff --git a/src/utils/loadScripts.py b/src/utils/loadScripts.py
index 280b29c..1795961 100644
--- a/src/utils/loadScripts.py
+++ b/src/utils/loadScripts.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def showSettings(settingsDict):
     logger.info('%s | Removing failed downloads (%s)', str(settingsDict['REMOVE_FAILED']), 'REMOVE_FAILED')
     logger.info('%s | Removing failed imports (%s)', str(settingsDict['REMOVE_FAILED_IMPORTS']), 'REMOVE_FAILED_IMPORTS')
     if settingsDict['REMOVE_FAILED_IMPORTS'] and not settingsDict['FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS']:
-        logger.verbose ('> Any imports with a warning flag are considered failed. No message patterns specified (%s).', 'FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS')
+        logger.verbose ('> Any imports with a warning flag are considered failed, as no patterns specified (%s).', 'FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS')
     elif settingsDict['REMOVE_FAILED_IMPORTS'] and settingsDict['FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS']:
         logger.verbose ('> Imports with a warning flag are considered failed if the status message contains any of the following patterns:')
         for pattern in settingsDict['FAILED_IMPORT_MESSAGE_PATTERNS']: