diff --git a/frigate/comms/dispatcher.py b/frigate/comms/dispatcher.py
index f560d1bcf4..a85e644940 100644
--- a/frigate/comms/dispatcher.py
+++ b/frigate/comms/dispatcher.py
@@ -412,8 +412,6 @@ class Dispatcher:
         for camera_name, features in state.items():
             if camera_name not in self.config.cameras:
                 continue
-            if not isinstance(features, dict):
-                continue
             for topic, value in features.items():
                 handler = self._camera_settings_handlers.get(topic)
                 if handler is None:
diff --git a/frigate/comms/runtime_state.py b/frigate/comms/runtime_state.py
index c3f1639f09..5066ed3993 100644
--- a/frigate/comms/runtime_state.py
+++ b/frigate/comms/runtime_state.py
@@ -48,7 +48,14 @@ class RuntimeStatePersistence:
             logger.error("Timed out acquiring runtime state lock for load")
             return {}
         cameras = data.get("cameras", {})
-        return cameras if isinstance(cameras, dict) else {}
+        if not isinstance(cameras, dict):
+            return {}
+        # Filter out malformed camera entries so callers can trust the shape.
+        return {
+            name: features
+            for name, features in cameras.items()
+            if isinstance(features, dict)
+        }
 
     def set(self, camera: str, topic: str, value: bool) -> None:
         """Persist a single (camera, topic, value). No-op if topic untracked."""