diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/config.py b/src/calibre/utils/config.py
index b3e1cd2cf9..0925d8667d 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/config.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/config.py
@@ -497,6 +497,8 @@ class DynamicConfig(dict):
                 raw = f.read()
                 try:
                     d = cPickle.loads(raw) if raw.strip() else {}
+                except SystemError:
+                    pass
                 except:
                     import traceback
                     traceback.print_exc()