diff --git a/mycroft/skills/settings.py b/mycroft/skills/settings.py
index b2c4bd0114..1537881380 100644
--- a/mycroft/skills/settings.py
+++ b/mycroft/skills/settings.py
@@ -70,6 +70,10 @@ class SkillSettings(dict):
 
         self.load_skill_settings()
 
+    @property
+    def _is_stored(self):
+        return hash(str(self)) == self.loaded_hash
+
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         return super(SkillSettings, self).__getitem__(key)
 
@@ -111,7 +115,7 @@ class SkillSettings(dict):
             request settings and store it if it changes
             TODO: implement as websocket
         """
-        if self._skill_exist_in_backend:
+        if self._skill_exist_in_backend():
             try:
                 # update settings
                 self.settings = self._get_settings()
@@ -124,8 +128,7 @@ class SkillSettings(dict):
                                 self.__setitem__(field["name"], field["value"])
 
                 # store value if settings has changed from backend
-                new_hash = hash(str(self))
-                if new_hash != self.loaded_hash:
+                if not self._is_stored:
                     self.store()
                     self.loaded_hash = hash(str(self))
 
diff --git a/test/skills/settings.py b/test/skills/settings.py
index e02c912b50..de9fe4f548 100644
--- a/test/skills/settings.py
+++ b/test/skills/settings.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from mycroft.skills.settings import SkillSettings
 
 from os.path import join, dirname, abspath
 from os import remove
+import json
 import unittest
 
 
@@ -68,6 +69,13 @@ class SkillSettingsTest(unittest.TestCase):
         s2 = SkillSettings(join(dirname(__file__), 'settings'))
         self.assertTrue(len(s) == len(s2))
 
+    def test_load_existing(self):
+        directory = join(dirname(__file__), 'settings', 'settings.json')
+        with open(directory, 'w') as f:
+            json.dump({"test": "1"}, f)
+        s = SkillSettings(join(dirname(__file__), 'settings'))
+        self.assertEqual(len(s), 1)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()