diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
index 10686c0fd..80b253512 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/hints.py
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ class WordHinter:
 
     def ensure_initialized(self):
         """Generate the used words if yet uninitialized."""
-        dictionary = config.get("hints", "dictionary")
+        dictionary = config.val.hints.dictionary
         if not self.words or self.dictionary != dictionary:
             self.words.clear()
             self.dictionary = dictionary