diff --git a/src/ankisyncd/sync.py b/src/ankisyncd/sync.py
index f50cbd5..9db4e76 100644
--- a/src/ankisyncd/sync.py
+++ b/src/ankisyncd/sync.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import random
 import requests
 import json
 import os
+from typing import List,Tuple
 
 from anki.db import DB, DBError
 from anki.utils import ids2str, intTime, platDesc, checksum, devMode
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ class Syncer(object):
         for g in self.col.decks.all():
             if g['usn'] == -1:
                 return "deck had usn = -1"
-        for t, usn in self.col.tags.allItems():
+        for t, usn in self.allItems():
             if usn == -1:
                 return "tag had usn = -1"
         found = False
@@ -276,10 +277,12 @@ from notes where %s""" % lim, self.maxUsn)
 
     # Tags
     ##########################################################################
-
+    def allItems(self) -> List[Tuple[str, int]]:
+        tags=self.col.db.execute("select tag, usn from tags")
+        return [(tag, int(usn)) for tag,usn in tags]
     def getTags(self):
         tags = []
-        for t, usn in self.col.tags.allItems():
+        for t, usn in self.allItems():
             if usn == -1:
                 self.col.tags.tags[t] = self.maxUsn
                 tags.append(t)
@@ -331,7 +334,9 @@ from notes where %s""" % lim, self.maxUsn)
         return self.col.conf
 
     def mergeConf(self, conf):
-        self.col.backend.set_all_config(json.dumps(conf).encode())
+        for key, value in conf.items():
+            self.col.set_config(key, value)
+#         self.col.backend.set_all_config(json.dumps(conf).encode())
 
 # Wrapper for requests that tracks upload/download progress
 ##########################################################################
diff --git a/src/ankisyncd/sync_app.py b/src/ankisyncd/sync_app.py
index 2147232..edf081d 100644
--- a/src/ankisyncd/sync_app.py
+++ b/src/ankisyncd/sync_app.py
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ class SyncCollectionHandler(Syncer):
         ]
 
     def getTags(self):
-        return [t for t, usn in self.col.tags.allItems()
+        return [t for t, usn in self.allItems()
                 if usn >= self.minUsn]
 
 class SyncMediaHandler: