diff -rudp pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/core/actions.py pida-0.6.2/pida/core/actions.py
--- pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/core/actions.py	2022-06-28 23:20:25.000000000 +0100
+++ pida-0.6.2/pida/core/actions.py	2022-06-28 23:21:53.000000000 +0100
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 import gtk
 from .base import BaseConfig
 from .environment import settings_dir
-from pida.utils import json
+import json
 
 
 accelerator_group = gtk.AccelGroup()
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class ActionsConfig(BaseConfig):
         enabled.
         """
         data = self._defaults.copy()
-        data.update(json.load(settings_dir(self.name), fallback={}))
+        data.update(json.load(settings_dir(self.name)))
         self.current = data
         for name, accel in data.items():
             if name in self._defaults:
@@ -188,7 +188,10 @@ class ActionsConfig(BaseConfig):
         self.store_shortcuts()
 
     def store_shortcuts(self):
-        data = json.load(settings_dir(self.name), fallback={})
+        try:
+            data = json.load(settings_dir(self.name))
+        except:
+            data = {}
         data.update(self.current)
         json.dump(data, settings_dir(self.name))
 
diff -rudp pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/core/options.py pida-0.6.2/pida/core/options.py
--- pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/core/options.py	2022-06-28 23:20:25.000000000 +0100
+++ pida-0.6.2/pida/core/options.py	2022-06-28 23:21:02.000000000 +0100
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 """
 import itertools
 
-from pida.utils import json
+import json
 
 import py
 
@@ -38,7 +38,10 @@ def list_workspaces():
 
 
 def must_open_workspace_manager():
-    data = json.load(settings_dir('appcontroller.json'), fallback={})
+    try:
+        data = json.load(settings_dir('appcontroller.json'))
+    except:
+        data = {}
     return bool(data.get('open_workspace_manager', False))
 
 
diff -rudp pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/services/language/language.py pida-0.6.2/pida/services/language/language.py
--- pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/services/language/language.py	2022-06-28 23:20:25.000000000 +0100
+++ pida-0.6.2/pida/services/language/language.py	2022-06-28 23:22:48.000000000 +0100
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from pida.core.doctype import DocType
 from pida.core.languages import LanguageInfo
 from pida.core import environment
 
-from pida.utils import json
+import json
 
 from pygtkhelpers.gthreads import gcall
 #from pida.utils.languages import LANG_OUTLINER_TYPES
@@ -72,7 +72,10 @@ def prio_path():
 
 
 def load_prio():
-    return json.load(prio_path(), fallback={})
+    try:
+        return json.load(prio_path())
+    except:
+        return {}
 
 
 class SimpleLanguageMapping(dict):
diff -rudp pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/services/window/window.py pida-0.6.2/pida/services/window/window.py
--- pida-0.6.2.orig/pida/services/window/window.py	2022-06-28 23:20:25.000000000 +0100
+++ pida-0.6.2/pida/services/window/window.py	2022-06-28 23:22:23.000000000 +0100
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ from pida.core.options import OptionsCon
 from pida.core.actions import ActionsConfig, global_accelerator_group
 from pida.core.document import Document
 from pida.core.environment import workspace_name, settings_dir
-from pida.utils import json
+import json
 
 from pida.ui.actions import PidaMenuToolAction, PidaRememberToggle
 
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@ def window_config():
     return settings_dir()/'window_extra_window-config.json'
 
 def load_window_config():
-    return json.load(window_config(), fallback={})
+    try:
+        return json.load(window_config())
+    except:
+        return {}