diff --git a/ush/python_utils/config_parser.py b/ush/python_utils/config_parser.py
index 5619cf2197..2d74762285 100644
--- a/ush/python_utils/config_parser.py
+++ b/ush/python_utils/config_parser.py
@@ -407,7 +407,10 @@ def xml_to_dict(root, return_string):
                 cfg[k] = value
         else:
             cfg_l = {}
-            if value is None:
+            cfg_l.update({"attrib": child.attrib})
+            if isinstance(value, dict):
+                cfg_l.update(value)
+            elif value is None:
                 cfg_l.update({"attrib": child.attrib})
             else:
                 cfg_l.update({"attrib": child.attrib, "valuea": value})
@@ -441,7 +444,7 @@ def dict_to_xml(d, elem):
                 if isinstance(va, dict):
                     dict_to_xml(va, child)
                 else:
-                    child.text = list_to_str(v, True)
+                    child.text = list_to_str(va, True)
                 elem.append(child)
         else:
             child = ET.Element(k)