diff --git a/opentech/apply/funds/models/submissions.py b/opentech/apply/funds/models/submissions.py
index 7715ab87f5de1d7ceeddff346e850d4f47d9d7a9..811ee371bb330642fd2b52d926375fca35917198 100644
--- a/opentech/apply/funds/models/submissions.py
+++ b/opentech/apply/funds/models/submissions.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ from ..workflow import (
 )
 
 
-storage_settings = settings.get('APPLY_STORAGE_CONFIG', {})
+storage_settings = getattr(settings, 'APPLY_STORAGE_CONFIG', {})
 submission_storage = DefaultStorage(**storage_settings)