diff --git a/db/seeds/backer.rb b/db/seeds/backer.rb
index 277615323..9ebe1248f 100644
--- a/db/seeds/backer.rb
+++ b/db/seeds/backer.rb
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def create
 end
 
 def set_app_config username
-  current_config = YAML.load(Rails.root.join('config', 'app_config.yml'))
+  current_config = YAML.load(Rails.root.join('config', 'app_config.yml')).symbolize_keys
   current_config[Rails.env] ||= {}
   current_config[Rails.env][:pod_url] = "#{username}.joindiaspora.com"
   current_config[:default][:pod_url] = "#{username}.joindiaspora.com"
diff --git a/db/seeds/tom.rb b/db/seeds/tom.rb
index b81d10827..c35058bf7 100644
--- a/db/seeds/tom.rb
+++ b/db/seeds/tom.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 require 'config/environment'
 
 def set_app_config username
-  current_config = YAML.load(Rails.root.join('config', 'app_config.yml'))
+  current_config = YAML.load(Rails.root.join('config', 'app_config.yml')).symbolize_keys
   current_config[Rails.env] ||= {}
   current_config[Rails.env][:pod_url] = "#{username}.joindiaspora.com"
   current_config[:default][:pod_url] = "#{username}.joindiaspora.com"