diff --git a/src/config/config.ts b/src/config/config.ts
index e11ec0aaf..562e13d6e 100644
--- a/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.ts
@@ -330,8 +330,19 @@ function getFullDefaults(app: ConfigApp) {
 function setBaseDeltas(app: ConfigApp) {
   const defaultsPath = getBaseDeltasPath(app)
   try {
-    app.config.baseDeltaEditor.load(defaultsPath)
+    const de = app.config.baseDeltaEditor
+
+    de.load(defaultsPath)
     debug(`Found default deltas at ${defaultsPath.toString()}`)
+
+    //fix old, incorrectly done callsignVhf
+    const communication = de.getSelfValue('communication')
+    if (communication) {
+      if (communication.callsignVhf) {
+        de.setSelfValue('communication.callsignVhf', communication.callsignVhf)
+      }
+      de.setSelfValue('communication', undefined)
+    }
   } catch (e) {
     if ((e as any)?.code === 'ENOENT') {
       debug(`No default deltas found at ${defaultsPath.toString()}`)
diff --git a/src/serverroutes.ts b/src/serverroutes.ts
index 6fd14764e..894d079a8 100644
--- a/src/serverroutes.ts
+++ b/src/serverroutes.ts
@@ -658,7 +658,6 @@ module.exports = function (
 
   app.get(`${SERVERROUTESPREFIX}/vessel`, (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     const de = app.config.baseDeltaEditor
-    const communication = de.getSelfValue('communication')
     const draft = de.getSelfValue('design.draft')
     const length = de.getSelfValue('design.length')
     const type = de.getSelfValue('design.aisShipType')
@@ -673,7 +672,7 @@ module.exports = function (
       gpsFromBow: de.getSelfValue('sensors.gps.fromBow'),
       gpsFromCenter: de.getSelfValue('sensors.gps.fromCenter'),
       aisShipType: type && type.id,
-      callsignVhf: communication && communication.callsignVhf
+      callsignVhf: de.getSelfValue('communication.callsignVhf')
     }
 
     res.json(json)
@@ -814,9 +813,9 @@ module.exports = function (
         : undefined
     )
     de.setSelfValue(
-      'communication',
+      'communication.callsignVhf',
       !isUndefined(vessel.callsignVhf) && vessel.callsignVhf.length
-        ? { callsignVhf: vessel.callsignVhf }
+        ? vessel.callsignVhf
         : undefined
     )