diff --git a/src/vorta/utils.py b/src/vorta/utils.py
index 8a4176e000..99626bc2ae 100644
--- a/src/vorta/utils.py
+++ b/src/vorta/utils.py
@@ -105,11 +105,11 @@ def nested_dict():
     - https://stackoverflow.com/a/16724937/3983708
     - https://stackoverflow.com/a/14692747/3983708
     """
-    return defaultdict(nested_dict)
+    return dict()
 
 
 def get_dict_from_list(dataDict, mapList):
-    return reduce(operator.getitem, mapList, dataDict)
+    return reduce(lambda d,k: d.setdefault(k,{}), mapList, dataDict)
 
 
 def choose_file_dialog(parent, title, want_folder=True):