diff --git a/novelwriter/core/project.py b/novelwriter/core/project.py
index 2a78f9eb..592e52f1 100644
--- a/novelwriter/core/project.py
+++ b/novelwriter/core/project.py
@@ -255,14 +255,13 @@ class NWProject(QObject):
         build the tree of project items.
         """
         self.clearProject()
+        logger.info("Opening project: %s", projPath)
         if not self._storage.openProjectInPlace(projPath):
             self.mainGui.makeAlert(self.tr(
                 "Could not open project with path: {0}"
             ).format(projPath), nwAlert.ERROR)
             return False
 
-        logger.info("Opening project: %s", projPath)
-
         # Project Lock
         # ============
 
diff --git a/novelwriter/core/storage.py b/novelwriter/core/storage.py
index 6d250e12..f664ddfa 100644
--- a/novelwriter/core/storage.py
+++ b/novelwriter/core/storage.py
@@ -507,21 +507,24 @@ class _LegacyStorage:
             logger.info("Converting: %s", optsOld)
             with open(optsOld, mode="r", encoding="utf-8") as fObj:
                 data = json.load(fObj)
-
-                # Convert Outline Values
-                state = {}
-                outline = data.get("GuiOutline", {})
-                hidden = outline.get("columnHidden", {})
-                width = outline.get("columnWidth", {})
-                for key in outline.get("headerOrder", []):
-                    state[key] = [hidden.get(key, False), width.get(key, 100)]
-                data["columnState"] = state
+                if "GuiOutline" in data:
+                    # Convert Outline Values
+                    state = {}
+                    outline = data.get("GuiOutline", {})
+                    hidden = outline.get("columnHidden", {})
+                    width = outline.get("columnWidth", {})
+                    for key in outline.get("headerOrder", []):
+                        state[key] = [hidden.get(key, False), width.get(key, 100)]
+                    data["GuiOutline"]["columnState"] = state
 
             with open(optsNew, mode="w", encoding="utf-8") as fObj:
                 json.dump({"novelWriter.guiOptions": data}, fObj, indent=2)
 
-            # If we're here, we remove the old file
+            # If we're here, we remove the old file, and then we reload
+            # the converted file and save it again
             optsOld.unlink()
+            self._project.options.loadSettings()
+            self._project.options.saveSettings()
 
         except Exception:
             logger.error("Failed to convert old options file")
diff --git a/tests/test_core/test_core_storage.py b/tests/test_core/test_core_storage.py
index 50db40c8..38871beb 100644
--- a/tests/test_core/test_core_storage.py
+++ b/tests/test_core/test_core_storage.py
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ def testCoreStorage_OldFormatConvert(monkeypatch, mockGUI, fncPath):
     assert data["novelWriter.guiOptions"]["GuiProjectSettings"] == {
         "winWidth": 570, "winHeight": 375
     }
-    assert data["novelWriter.guiOptions"]["columnState"] == {
+    assert data["novelWriter.guiOptions"]["GuiOutline"]["columnState"] == {
         "TITLE": [False, 325],
         "LEVEL": [True, 40],
         "LABEL": [False, 267],