diff --git a/jrnl/jrnl.py b/jrnl/jrnl.py
index b82dd54c..7b98a42e 100755
--- a/jrnl/jrnl.py
+++ b/jrnl/jrnl.py
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ import tempfile
 import subprocess
 import argparse
 import sys
-try: import simplejson as json
-except ImportError: import json
 
 xdg_config = os.environ.get('XDG_CONFIG_HOME')
 CONFIG_PATH = os.path.join(xdg_config, "jrnl") if xdg_config else os.path.expanduser('~/.jrnl_config')
@@ -123,13 +121,7 @@ def cli(manual_args=None):
     if not os.path.exists(CONFIG_PATH):
         config = install.install_jrnl(CONFIG_PATH)
     else:
-        with open(CONFIG_PATH) as f:
-            try:
-                config = json.load(f)
-            except ValueError as e:
-                util.prompt("[There seems to be something wrong with your jrnl config at {0}: {1}]".format(CONFIG_PATH, e.message))
-                util.prompt("[Entry was NOT added to your journal]")
-                sys.exit(1)
+        config = util.load_and_fix_json(CONFIG_PATH)
         install.upgrade_config(config, config_path=CONFIG_PATH)
 
     original_config = config.copy()
diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index 7ae9d4df..7d396f72 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ from tzlocal import get_localzone
 import getpass as gp
 import keyring
 import pytz
+try: import simplejson as json
+except ImportError: import json
+import re
 
 PY3 = sys.version_info[0] == 3
 PY2 = sys.version_info[0] == 2
@@ -88,3 +91,29 @@ def get_local_timezone():
     if not __cached_tz or __cached_tz not in pytz.all_timezones_set:
         __cached_tz = "UTC"
     return __cached_tz
+
+def load_and_fix_json(json_path):
+    """Tries to load a json object from a file.
+    If that fails, tries to fix common errors (no or extra , at end of the line).
+    """
+    with open(json_path) as f:
+        json_str = f.read()
+    config = fixed = None
+    try:
+        return json.loads(json_str)
+    except ValueError as e:
+        # Attempt to fix extra ,
+        json_str = re.sub(r",[ \n]*}", "}", json_str)
+        # Attempt to fix missing ,
+        json_str = re.sub(r"([^{,]) *\n *(\")", r"\1,\n \2", json_str)
+        try:
+            config = json.loads(json_str)
+            with open(json_path, 'w') as f:
+                json.dump(config, f, indent=2)
+            prompt("[Some errors in your jrnl config have been fixed for you.]")
+            return config
+        except ValueError as e:
+            prompt("[There seems to be something wrong with your jrnl config at {0}: {1}]".format(json_path, e.message))
+            prompt("[Entry was NOT added to your journal]")
+            sys.exit(1)
+