diff --git a/lib/Db/ExAppMapper.php b/lib/Db/ExAppMapper.php
index 216662203..4a22c7ae0 100644
--- a/lib/Db/ExAppMapper.php
+++ b/lib/Db/ExAppMapper.php
@@ -202,6 +202,9 @@ public function registerExAppRoutes(ExApp $exApp, array $routes): int {
 			if (isset($route['bruteforce_protection']) && is_string($route['bruteforce_protection'])) {
 				$route['bruteforce_protection'] = json_decode($route['bruteforce_protection'], false);
 			}
+			if (isset($route['headers_to_exclude']) && is_string($route['headers_to_exclude'])) {
+				$route['headers_to_exclude'] = json_decode($route['headers_to_exclude'], false);
+			}
 			if (!isset($route['headers_to_exclude'])) {
 				$route['headers_to_exclude'] = [];
 			}