diff --git a/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Actions/Kafka/KafkaPlugin.cs b/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Actions/Kafka/KafkaPlugin.cs
index 908ad5784..580de48ee 100644
--- a/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Actions/Kafka/KafkaPlugin.cs
+++ b/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Actions/Kafka/KafkaPlugin.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace Squidex.Extensions.Actions.Kafka
     {
         public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services, IConfiguration config)
         {
-            var options = config.GetSection("kafka").Get<KafkaProducerOptions>();
+            var options = config.GetSection("kafka").Get<KafkaProducerOptions>() ?? new ();
 
             if (options.IsProducerConfigured())
             {
diff --git a/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Assets/Azure/AzureMetadataSourcePlugin.cs b/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Assets/Azure/AzureMetadataSourcePlugin.cs
index edca95201..f7a9adc78 100644
--- a/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Assets/Azure/AzureMetadataSourcePlugin.cs
+++ b/backend/extensions/Squidex.Extensions/Assets/Azure/AzureMetadataSourcePlugin.cs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ namespace Squidex.Extensions.Assets.Azure
     {
         public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services, IConfiguration config)
         {
-            var options = config.GetSection("assets:azureCognitive").Get<AzureMetadataSourceOptions>();
+            var options = config.GetSection("assets:azurecognitive").Get<AzureMetadataSourceOptions>() ?? new ();
 
             if (options.IsConfigured())
             {
diff --git a/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Authentication/AuthenticationServices.cs b/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Authentication/AuthenticationServices.cs
index 98d3d2ee9..981243870 100644
--- a/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Authentication/AuthenticationServices.cs
+++ b/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Authentication/AuthenticationServices.cs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace Squidex.Config.Authentication
     {
         public static void AddSquidexAuthentication(this IServiceCollection services, IConfiguration config)
         {
-            var identityOptions = config.GetSection("identity").Get<MyIdentityOptions>();
+            var identityOptions = config.GetSection("identity").Get<MyIdentityOptions>() ?? new ();
 
             services.AddAuthentication()
                 .AddSquidexCookies()
diff --git a/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/AssetServices.cs b/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/AssetServices.cs
index b1faccf76..c96964949 100644
--- a/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/AssetServices.cs
+++ b/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/AssetServices.cs
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ namespace Squidex.Config.Domain
                 },
                 ["AmazonS3"] = () =>
                 {
-                    var amazonS3Options = config.GetSection("assetStore:amazonS3").Get<AmazonS3Options>();
+                    var amazonS3Options = config.GetSection("assetStore:amazonS3").Get<AmazonS3Options>() ?? new ();
 
                     services.AddSingletonAs(c => new AmazonS3AssetStore(amazonS3Options))
                         .As<IAssetStore>();
diff --git a/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/NotificationsServices.cs b/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/NotificationsServices.cs
index e36acc613..891b45a51 100644
--- a/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/NotificationsServices.cs
+++ b/backend/src/Squidex/Config/Domain/NotificationsServices.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// ==========================================================================
+// ==========================================================================
 //  Squidex Headless CMS
 // ==========================================================================
 //  Copyright (c) Squidex UG (haftungsbeschraenkt)
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ namespace Squidex.Config.Domain
     {
         public static void AddSquidexNotifications(this IServiceCollection services, IConfiguration config)
         {
-            var emailOptions = config.GetSection("email:smtp").Get<SmtpOptions>();
+            var emailOptions = config.GetSection("email:smtp").Get<SmtpOptions>() ?? new ();
 
             if (emailOptions.IsConfigured())
             {
@@ -44,4 +44,4 @@ namespace Squidex.Config.Domain
                 .As<IEventConsumer>();
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}