diff --git a/src/BreCalClient/AppNotification.cs b/src/BreCalClient/AppNotification.cs
index 2215f26..3164052 100644
--- a/src/BreCalClient/AppNotification.cs
+++ b/src/BreCalClient/AppNotification.cs
@@ -78,11 +78,14 @@ namespace BreCalClient
         {
             _notifications.Clear();
 
-            // load notification ids that have been processed
-            foreach (string? notification_id in Properties.Settings.Default.Notifications)
+            if (Properties.Settings.Default.Notifications != null)
             {
-                if(Int32.TryParse(notification_id, out int result))
-                    _notifications.Add(result, new AppNotification(result));
+                // load notification ids that have been processed
+                foreach (string? notification_id in Properties.Settings.Default.Notifications)
+                {
+                    if (Int32.TryParse(notification_id, out int result))
+                        _notifications.Add(result, new AppNotification(result));
+                }
             }
         }