diff --git a/django_site/settings.py b/django_site/settings.py
index 360d1b8..41c59cf 100644
--- a/django_site/settings.py
+++ b/django_site/settings.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
 DOTMAILER_PASSWORD = os.getenv("DOTMAILER_PASSWORD", "")
 DOTMAILER_DEFAULT_PREFERENCES = json.loads(os.getenv("DOTMAILER_DEFAULT_PREFERENCES", "[]") or "[]")
 
-APPENGINE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_CREDENTIALS = os.getenv("APPENGINE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_CREDENTIALS", "[]")
+APPENGINE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_CREDENTIALS = json.loads(os.getenv("APPENGINE_SERVICE_ACCOUNT_CREDENTIALS", "[]") or "[]")
 GCP_KMS_URI = os.getenv("GCP_KMS_URI", "")
 
 REACT_APP_KURONO_BADGES_URL = os.getenv(