diff --git a/InvenTree/InvenTree/config.py b/InvenTree/InvenTree/config.py
index 703b0097da..720e7bd6eb 100644
--- a/InvenTree/InvenTree/config.py
+++ b/InvenTree/InvenTree/config.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Helper functions for loading InvenTree configuration options."""
 
 import datetime
+import json
 import logging
 import os
 import random
@@ -32,6 +33,28 @@ def to_list(value, delimiter=','):
     return [x.strip() for x in value.split(delimiter)]
 
 
+def to_dict(value):
+    """Take a configuration setting and make sure it is a dict.
+
+    For example, we might have a configuration setting taken from the .config file,
+    which is already an object/dict.
+
+    However, the same setting may be specified via an environment variable,
+    using a valid JSON string!
+    """
+    if value is None:
+        return {}
+
+    if type(value) == dict:
+        return value
+
+    try:
+        return json.loads(value)
+    except Exception as error:
+        logger.error(f"Failed to parse value '{value}' as JSON with error {error}. Ensure value is a valid JSON string.")
+    return {}
+
+
 def is_true(x):
     """Shortcut function to determine if a value "looks" like a boolean"""
     return str(x).strip().lower() in ['1', 'y', 'yes', 't', 'true', 'on']
@@ -125,6 +148,10 @@ def get_setting(env_var=None, config_key=None, default_value=None, typecast=None
         if typecast is list:
             value = to_list(value)
 
+        # Valid JSON string is required
+        elif typecast is dict:
+            value = to_dict(value)
+
         elif typecast is not None:
             # Try to typecast the value
             try:
diff --git a/InvenTree/InvenTree/settings.py b/InvenTree/InvenTree/settings.py
index 1bd14925bf..1aab68d5d6 100644
--- a/InvenTree/InvenTree/settings.py
+++ b/InvenTree/InvenTree/settings.py
@@ -816,10 +816,7 @@ SOCIAL_BACKENDS = get_setting('INVENTREE_SOCIAL_BACKENDS', 'social_backends', []
 for app in SOCIAL_BACKENDS:
     INSTALLED_APPS.append(app)  # pragma: no cover
 
-SOCIALACCOUNT_PROVIDERS = get_setting('INVENTREE_SOCIAL_PROVIDERS', 'social_providers', None)
-
-if SOCIALACCOUNT_PROVIDERS is None:
-    SOCIALACCOUNT_PROVIDERS = {}
+SOCIALACCOUNT_PROVIDERS = get_setting('INVENTREE_SOCIAL_PROVIDERS', 'social_providers', None, typecast=dict)
 
 SOCIALACCOUNT_STORE_TOKENS = True
 
diff --git a/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py b/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py
index feb57d6469..23bb69cd53 100644
--- a/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py
+++ b/InvenTree/InvenTree/tests.py
@@ -830,6 +830,17 @@ class TestSettings(helpers.InvenTreeTestCase):
         with self.in_env_context({TEST_ENV_NAME: '321'}):
             self.assertEqual(config.get_setting(TEST_ENV_NAME, None), '321')
 
+        # test typecasting to dict - None should be mapped to empty dict
+        self.assertEqual(config.get_setting(TEST_ENV_NAME, None, None), {})
+
+        # test typecasting to dict - valid JSON string should be mapped to corresponding dict
+        with self.in_env_context({TEST_ENV_NAME: '{"a": 1}'}):
+            self.assertEqual(config.get_setting(TEST_ENV_NAME, None), {"a": 1})
+
+        # test typecasting to dict - invalid JSON string should be mapped to empty dict
+        with self.in_env_context({TEST_ENV_NAME: "{'a': 1}"}):
+            self.assertEqual(config.get_setting(TEST_ENV_NAME, None), {})
+
 
 class TestInstanceName(helpers.InvenTreeTestCase):
     """Unit tests for instance name."""