diff --git a/exllamav3/model/config.py b/exllamav3/model/config.py
index 2f2330a..1d48ce4 100644
--- a/exllamav3/model/config.py
+++ b/exllamav3/model/config.py
@@ -163,10 +163,22 @@ class Config(ABC):
 
         return RopeSettings(
             head_dim = self.head_dim,
-            rope_theta = read_dict(config_dict, float, theta_key, default_rope_theta),
+            rope_theta = read_dict(
+                config_dict,
+                float,
+                theta_key,
+                default_rope_theta,
+                wrong_type_as_missing = True
+            ),
             rope_scaling = read_dict(config_dict, dict, ["rope_scaling", "rope_parameters"], None),
             rotary_dim = read_dict(config_dict, int, "rotary_dim", None),
-            partial_rotary_factor = read_dict(config_dict, float, ["partial_rotary_factor", "rope_parameters->partial_rotary_factor"], default_partial_rotary_factor),
+            partial_rotary_factor = read_dict(
+                config_dict,
+                float,
+                ["partial_rotary_factor", "rope_parameters->partial_rotary_factor"],
+                default_partial_rotary_factor,
+                wrong_type_as_missing = True
+            ),
             max_position_embeddings = read_dict(config_dict, int, "max_position_embeddings", None),
             original_max_position_embeddings = read_dict(config_dict, int, "original_max_position_embeddings", None),
             rope_style = rope_style,
diff --git a/exllamav3/util/file.py b/exllamav3/util/file.py
index e0624e9..7c0b649 100644
--- a/exllamav3/util/file.py
+++ b/exllamav3/util/file.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def read_dict(
         expected_types: type | list[type],
         keys: str | list[str],
         default = no_default,
+        wrong_type_as_missing: bool = False,
 ) -> T:
     """
     Utility function to read typed value from (nested) dictionary
@@ -74,6 +75,9 @@ def read_dict(
         Default value to return if the key isn't found, e.g. None. If this is the special value no_default
         and no keys are matched, raise an exception instead.
 
+    :param wrong_type_as_missing:
+         Treat an existing key of the wrong type as a missing key and apply default value if possible
+
     :return:
         Requested value if key found, otherwise default value
     """
@@ -110,7 +114,8 @@ def read_dict(
                         x = int(x)
                     if isinstance(x, t):
                         return cast(T, x)
-            raise TypeError(f"Value for {key} is not of expected type: {expected_types}")
+            if not wrong_type_as_missing:
+                raise TypeError(f"Value for {key} is not of expected type: {expected_types}")
 
     if default != no_default:
         return default