diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 2383510..b9117c4 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ EXIT_ERROR=1
 default_configuration = {
     "window geometry": "640x480"
 }
+# empty configuration by default because new values will be added while trying to load them
+# this allows the IDE to load old configuration files with missing keys
+configuration = {}
+
 def info(message):
     # print info to sys.stderr because it isn’t really output, just debug information
     print("INFO: "+str(message), file=sys.stderr)
@@ -36,6 +40,18 @@ def error(message, is_exception=True, handle_gracefully=True):
     else:
         sys.exit(EXIT_ERROR)
 
+def get_configuration_value(key):
+    if key in configuration:
+        pass
+    else:
+        info("Requested configuration value for "+str(key)+" not in configuration. Loading from default configuration.")
+        try:
+            configuration[key] = default_configuration[key]
+        except KeyError:
+            error("Requested an invalid configuration key.")
+            return None
+    return configuration[key]
+
 # easy way to get data out of window events
 class Window_Interaction_Handler:
     # constructor
@@ -93,8 +109,6 @@ class Window_Interaction_Handler:
 # read configuration
 home_directory = os.path.expanduser("~")
 config_file_path = os.path.join(home_directory, "some_ide_config.json")
-# load default configuration in case it is needed
-configuration = default_configuration
 if os.path.isfile(config_file_path):
     try:
         config_file = open(config_file_path, "r")