diff --git a/packages/addons/service/multimedia/vdr-addon/source/bin/vdr.start b/packages/addons/service/multimedia/vdr-addon/source/bin/vdr.start
index 814b94f750..a79a497933 100755
--- a/packages/addons/service/multimedia/vdr-addon/source/bin/vdr.start
+++ b/packages/addons/service/multimedia/vdr-addon/source/bin/vdr.start
@@ -46,6 +46,24 @@ ENABLE_WIRBELSCAN=`grep enable_wirbelscan $ADDON_SETTINGS | awk '{print $3}' | s
 SOFTCAM_PLUGIN=`grep softcam_plugin $ADDON_SETTINGS | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
 ENABLE_DYNAMITE=`grep enable_dynamite $ADDON_SETTINGS | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
 
+# workaround for the case when settings.xml is not up-to-date
+# happens on update from 2.0.8 or earlier. so we have to get addon defaults
+# we may remove this later
+[ -z "$ENABLE_SOFTCAM" ] && \
+  ENABLE_SOFTCAM=`grep enable_softcam $ADDON_DIR/settings-default.xml | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
+[ -z "$ENABLE_IPTV" ] && \
+  ENABLE_IPTV=`grep enable_iptv $ADDON_DIR/settings-default.xml | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
+[ -z "$ENABLE_STREAMDEV_CLIENT" ] && \
+  ENABLE_STREAMDEV_CLIENT=`grep enable_streamdev_client $ADDON_DIR/settings-default.xml | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
+[ -z "$ENABLE_STREAMDEV_SERVER" ] && \
+  ENABLE_STREAMDEV_SERVER=`grep enable_streamdev_server $ADDON_DIR/settings-default.xml | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
+[ -z "$ENABLE_WIRBELSCAN" ] && \
+  ENABLE_WIRBELSCAN=`grep enable_wirbelscan $ADDON_DIR/settings-default.xml | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
+[ -z "$ENABLE_WIRBELSCAN" ] && \
+  SOFTCAM_PLUGIN=`grep softcam_plugin $ADDON_DIR/settings-default.xml | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
+[ -z "$ENABLE_DYNAMITE" ] && \
+  ENABLE_DYNAMITE=`grep enable_dynamite $ADDON_DIR/settings-default.xml | awk '{print $3}' | sed -e "s,value=,," -e "s,\",,g"`
+
 VDR_ARG="-g /tmp --no-kbd --log=3 --port=0"
 VDR_ARG="$VDR_ARG --config=$ADDON_CONFIG_DIR"
 VDR_ARG="$VDR_ARG --lib=$ADDON_PLUGIN_DIR"