diff --git a/python_payload/apps/w1f1/__init__.py b/python_payload/apps/w1f1/__init__.py
index 761a9526d84dfe83496e5e9dc3b1caf631b1833b..3bf6160aa661004a1b19ed883c6ca6c693706190 100644
--- a/python_payload/apps/w1f1/__init__.py
+++ b/python_payload/apps/w1f1/__init__.py
@@ -46,7 +46,19 @@ class WifiApp(Application):
 
         if os.path.exists(self.WIFI_CONFIG_FILE):
             with open(self.WIFI_CONFIG_FILE) as f:
-                self._wifi_config = json.load(f)
+                try:
+                    self._wifi_config = json.load(f)
+                except ValueError as e:
+                    print("Error loading wifi config:", str(e))
+                    print("Writing default config")
+                    self._wifi_config = {
+                        "config_version": 2,
+                        "networks": {
+                            "Example SSID": {"psk": "Example PSK"},
+                            "Camp2023-open": {"psk": None},
+                        },
+                    }
+                    self.save_config_json()
         else:
             self._wifi_config = {
                 "config_version": 2,