diff --git a/lib/Service/CategoryRepository.php b/lib/Service/CategoryRepository.php
index 4328dc4..84ab7d3 100644
--- a/lib/Service/CategoryRepository.php
+++ b/lib/Service/CategoryRepository.php
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ namespace OCA\SideMenu\Service;
 use OC\App\AppStore\Fetcher\CategoryFetcher;
 use OCA\SideMenu\AppInfo\Application;
 use OCP\AppFramework\Utility\ITimeFactory;
+use OCP\Exceptions\AppConfigTypeConflictException;
 use OCP\IAppConfig;
 use OCP\ICache;
 use OCP\ICacheFactory;
@@ -137,7 +138,12 @@ class CategoryRepository
                 return $categories;
             }
         } else {
-            $stored = $this->appConfig->getValueArray(Application::APP_ID, self::CACHE_KEY, [], lazy: true);
+            try {
+                $stored = $this->appConfig->getValueArray(Application::APP_ID, self::CACHE_KEY, [], lazy: true);
+            } catch (AppConfigTypeConflictException) {
+                // Stored with another type, e.g. set by hand; refreshed below
+                $stored = [];
+            }
 
             if (isset($stored['expires'], $stored['categories']) && $stored['expires'] > $this->timeFactory->getTime()) {
                 return $stored['categories'];