diff --git a/gajim/gtk/preferences.py b/gajim/gtk/preferences.py
index c4058c34b85889e674dc1f8bbd59e7cfa4abb4a2..88a7faf9fe0a5f06f42153dddd25f56c4bc61d94 100644
--- a/gajim/gtk/preferences.py
+++ b/gajim/gtk/preferences.py
@@ -161,7 +161,8 @@ def __init__(self):
 
         # Group chat settings
         threshold_model = self._ui.sync_threshold_combobox.get_model()
-        days = app.config.get_options('threshold_options', return_type=int)
+        options = app.config.get('threshold_options').split(',')
+        days = [int(option.strip()) for option in options]
         for day in days:
             if day == 0:
                 label = _('No threshold')