diff --git a/bazarr/config.py b/bazarr/config.py
index deea48731..ca61871e0 100644
--- a/bazarr/config.py
+++ b/bazarr/config.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import os
 from simpleconfigparser import simpleconfigparser
 
 from get_args import args
+from six import PY3
 
 defaults = {
     'general': {
@@ -139,7 +140,10 @@ defaults = {
     }
 }
 
-settings = simpleconfigparser(defaults=defaults)
+if PY3:
+    settings = simpleconfigparser(defaults=defaults, interpolation=None)
+else:
+    settings = simpleconfigparser(defaults=defaults)
 settings.read(os.path.join(args.config_dir, 'config', 'config.ini'))
 
 base_url = settings.general.base_url
diff --git a/libs/simpleconfigparser/__init__.py b/libs/simpleconfigparser/__init__.py
index 9cce999b9..c84ccbacc 100644
--- a/libs/simpleconfigparser/__init__.py
+++ b/libs/simpleconfigparser/__init__.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ THE SOFTWARE.
 try:
     from configparser import ConfigParser as configparser, NoOptionError, NoSectionError
 except ImportError:
-    from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser as configparser, NoOptionError, NoSectionError
+    from ConfigParser import RawConfigParser as configparser, NoOptionError, NoSectionError
 
 
 class simpleconfigparser(configparser):
@@ -126,6 +126,6 @@ class simpleconfigparser(configparser):
     def get(self, section, option, raw=False, vars=None, fallback=None):
         try:
             # Strip out quotes from the edges
-            return configparser.get(self, section, option, raw=raw, vars=vars).strip('"\'')
+            return configparser.get(self, section, option).strip('"\'')
         except NoOptionError:
             return None