diff --git a/src/desktop/paths.cpp b/src/desktop/paths.cpp
index 5a637b2fdc8..13adfffd3cc 100644
--- a/src/desktop/paths.cpp
+++ b/src/desktop/paths.cpp
@@ -150,8 +150,10 @@ inline std::string pretty_path(const std::string& path)
 
 inline config get_bookmarks_config()
 {
-	auto cfg = prefs::get().dir_bookmarks();
-	return cfg ? *cfg : config{};
+	const auto& cfg = prefs::get().dir_bookmarks();
+	return cfg.has_value() ? cfg.value() : config();
+
+//	return cfg ? *cfg : config{};
 }
 
 inline void commit_bookmarks_config(config& cfg)
diff --git a/src/preferences/preferences.hpp b/src/preferences/preferences.hpp
index 6e548ad1f06..7804f7f11c5 100644
--- a/src/preferences/preferences.hpp
+++ b/src/preferences/preferences.hpp
@@ -819,7 +819,6 @@ class prefs
 		static constexpr std::array unsynced_attributes_{
 			prefs_list::auto_pixel_scale,
 			prefs_list::core,
-			prefs_list::dir_bookmarks,
 			prefs_list::draw_delay,
 			prefs_list::editor_chosen_addon,
 			prefs_list::gui2_theme,
@@ -841,6 +840,7 @@ class prefs
 		};
 		static constexpr std::array unsynced_children_{
 			prefs_list::editor_recent_files,
+			prefs_list::dir_bookmarks,
 		};
 		static_assert(synced_attributes_.size() + synced_children_.size() + unsynced_attributes_.size() + unsynced_children_.size() == prefs_list::values.size(), "attribute missing from lists of synced or unsynced preferences!");
 };