diff --git a/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/bump_fee_dialog.py b/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/bump_fee_dialog.py
index a5c74cee7..1a6dc6228 100644
--- a/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/bump_fee_dialog.py
+++ b/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/bump_fee_dialog.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class BumpFeeDialog(Factory.Popup):
         self.callback = callback
         self.config = app.electrum_config
         self.fee_step = self.config.max_fee_rate() / 10
-        self.dynfees = self.config.get('dynamic_fees', True) and self.app.network
+        self.dynfees = self.config.is_dynfee() and self.app.network
         self.ids.old_fee.value = self.app.format_amount_and_units(self.init_fee)
         self.update_slider()
         self.update_text()
diff --git a/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/fee_dialog.py b/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/fee_dialog.py
index 25e9926c4..1c61c6a21 100644
--- a/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/fee_dialog.py
+++ b/gui/kivy/uix/dialogs/fee_dialog.py
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ class FeeDialog(Factory.Popup):
         self.config = config
         self.fee_rate = self.config.fee_per_kb()
         self.callback = callback
-        self.mempool = self.config.get('mempool_fees', False)
-        self.dynfees = self.config.get('dynamic_fees', True)
+        self.mempool = self.config.use_mempool_fees()
+        self.dynfees = self.config.is_dynfee()
         self.ids.mempool.active = self.mempool
         self.ids.dynfees.active = self.dynfees
         self.update_slider()
diff --git a/gui/qt/fee_slider.py b/gui/qt/fee_slider.py
index 209b0de76..04911d878 100644
--- a/gui/qt/fee_slider.py
+++ b/gui/qt/fee_slider.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class FeeSlider(QSlider):
     def moved(self, pos):
         with self.lock:
             if self.dyn:
-                fee_rate = self.config.depth_to_fee(pos) if self.config.get('mempool_fees') else self.config.eta_to_fee(pos)
+                fee_rate = self.config.depth_to_fee(pos) if self.config.use_mempool_fees() else self.config.eta_to_fee(pos)
             else:
                 fee_rate = self.config.static_fee(pos)
             tooltip = self.get_tooltip(pos, fee_rate)
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class FeeSlider(QSlider):
             self.callback(self.dyn, pos, fee_rate)
 
     def get_tooltip(self, pos, fee_rate):
-        mempool = self.config.get('mempool_fees')
+        mempool = self.config.use_mempool_fees()
         target, estimate = self.config.get_fee_text(pos, self.dyn, mempool, fee_rate)
         if self.dyn:
             return _('Target') + ': ' + target + '\n' + _('Current rate') + ': ' + estimate
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class FeeSlider(QSlider):
     def update(self):
         with self.lock:
             self.dyn = self.config.is_dynfee()
-            mempool = self.config.get('mempool_fees')
+            mempool = self.config.use_mempool_fees()
             maxp, pos, fee_rate = self.config.get_fee_slider(self.dyn, mempool)
             self.setRange(0, maxp)
             self.setValue(pos)
diff --git a/gui/qt/main_window.py b/gui/qt/main_window.py
index 62fb8f056..df86e3e89 100644
--- a/gui/qt/main_window.py
+++ b/gui/qt/main_window.py
@@ -1081,7 +1081,7 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow, MessageBoxMixin, PrintError):
 
         def fee_cb(dyn, pos, fee_rate):
             if dyn:
-                if self.config.get('mempool_fees'):
+                if self.config.use_mempool_fees():
                     self.config.set_key('depth_level', pos, False)
                 else:
                     self.config.set_key('fee_level', pos, False)
@@ -2669,7 +2669,7 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow, MessageBoxMixin, PrintError):
         fee_type_label = HelpLabel(_('Fee estimation') + ':', msg)
         fee_type_combo = QComboBox()
         fee_type_combo.addItems([_('Time based'), _('Mempool based')])
-        fee_type_combo.setCurrentIndex(1 if self.config.get('mempool_fees') else 0)
+        fee_type_combo.setCurrentIndex(1 if self.config.use_mempool_fees() else 0)
         def on_fee_type(x):
             self.config.set_key('mempool_fees', x==1)
             self.fee_slider.update()
diff --git a/lib/simple_config.py b/lib/simple_config.py
index c0bbb2162..072edccd0 100644
--- a/lib/simple_config.py
+++ b/lib/simple_config.py
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ class SimpleConfig(PrintError):
 
     def get_fee_status(self):
         dyn = self.is_dynfee()
-        mempool = self.get('mempool_fees')
+        mempool = self.use_mempool_fees()
         pos = self.get_depth_level() if mempool else self.get_fee_level()
         fee_rate = self.fee_per_kb()
         target, tooltip = self.get_fee_text(pos, dyn, mempool, fee_rate)
@@ -395,10 +395,10 @@ class SimpleConfig(PrintError):
         return bool(self.mempool_fees)
 
     def is_dynfee(self):
-        return self.get('dynamic_fees', True)
+        return bool(self.get('dynamic_fees', True))
 
     def use_mempool_fees(self):
-        return self.get('mempool_fees', False)
+        return bool(self.get('mempool_fees', False))
 
     def fee_per_kb(self):
         """Returns sat/kvB fee to pay for a txn.