diff --git a/iwm_browser/utils.py b/iwm_browser/utils.py
index 4528fc6..4cd6e1e 100644
--- a/iwm_browser/utils.py
+++ b/iwm_browser/utils.py
@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ def config_value(key: str, default_value=""):
 
     The value must be in json format!"""
     if key in os.environ:
-        return json.loads(os.environ[key])
+        try:
+            return json.loads(os.environ[key])
+        except json.JSONDecodeError:
+            return os.environ[key]
     else:
         return default_value