diff --git a/debian/debian_config.py b/debian/debian_config.py
index 8522f397..31e03b81 100644
--- a/debian/debian_config.py
+++ b/debian/debian_config.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ exec(open('/usr/lib/hobo/debian_config_common.py').read())
 #
 # local settings
 #
-exec(open(os.path.join(ETC_DIR, 'settings.py').read()))
+exec(open(os.path.join(ETC_DIR, 'settings.py')).read())
 
 # run additional settings snippets
 exec(open('/usr/lib/hobo/debian_config_settings_d.py').read())