diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index d359fb15..6244a82a 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.18.0-develop24
+1.18.0-develop25
diff --git a/modules/meta.py b/modules/meta.py
index 491dfeb9..07f98407 100644
--- a/modules/meta.py
+++ b/modules/meta.py
@@ -645,8 +645,8 @@ class MetadataFile(DataFile):
                                 decade = str(int(math.floor(item.year / 10) * 10))
                                 if decade not in addons:
                                     addons[decade] = []
-                                if item.year not in addons[decade]:
-                                    addons[decade].append(item.year)
+                                if str(item.year) not in addons[decade]:
+                                    addons[decade].append(str(item.year))
                                     all_keys[str(item.year)] = str(item.year)
                         auto_list = {str(k): f"{k}s" for k in addons if str(k) not in exclude and f"{k}s" not in exclude}
                         default_template = {"smart_filter": {"limit": 50, "sort_by": "critic_rating.desc", "any": {"year": "<<value>>"}}}
diff --git a/modules/operations.py b/modules/operations.py
index c7df827f..73b99642 100644
--- a/modules/operations.py
+++ b/modules/operations.py
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ class Operations:
                     logger.error(f"Backup failed to load saving copy to {filename}{i}{file_extension}")
             if not yaml:
                 yaml = YAML(path=self.library.metadata_backup["path"], create=True)
-            if "metadata" not in yaml.data:
+            if "metadata" not in yaml.data or not isinstance(yaml.data["metadata"], dict):
                 yaml.data["metadata"] = {}
             special_names = {}
             for mk, mv in yaml.data["metadata"].items():