diff --git a/medcat-v2/medcat/components/addons/meta_cat/meta_cat.py b/medcat-v2/medcat/components/addons/meta_cat/meta_cat.py
index 985a42377..079497688 100644
--- a/medcat-v2/medcat/components/addons/meta_cat/meta_cat.py
+++ b/medcat-v2/medcat/components/addons/meta_cat/meta_cat.py
@@ -180,6 +180,9 @@ def deserialise_from(cls, folder_path: str, **init_kwargs
             cnf = init_kwargs['cnf']
         else:
             config_path = os.path.join(folder_path, "meta_cat", "config")
+            if not os.path.exists(config_path):
+                # load legacy config (assuming it exists)
+                config_path += ".dat"
             logger.info(
                 "Was not provide a config when loading a meta cat from '%s'. "
                 "Inferring config from file at '%s'", folder_path,