diff --git a/rhodecode/authentication/__init__.py b/rhodecode/authentication/__init__.py
--- a/rhodecode/authentication/__init__.py
+++ b/rhodecode/authentication/__init__.py
@@ -71,9 +71,12 @@ def _discover_legacy_plugins(config, pre
     setting in database which are using the specified prefix. Normally 'py:' is
     used for the legacy plugins.
     """
-    auth_plugins = SettingsModel().get_setting_by_name('auth_plugins')
-    enabled_plugins = auth_plugins.app_settings_value
-    legacy_plugins = [id_ for id_ in enabled_plugins if id_.startswith(prefix)]
+    try:
+        auth_plugins = SettingsModel().get_setting_by_name('auth_plugins')
+        enabled_plugins = auth_plugins.app_settings_value
+        legacy_plugins = [id_ for id_ in enabled_plugins if id_.startswith(prefix)]
+    except Exception:
+        legacy_plugins = []
 
     for plugin_id in legacy_plugins:
         log.debug('Legacy plugin discovered: "%s"', plugin_id)