diff --git a/dzgui/config/convert.py b/dzgui/config/convert.py
index c4c886e..bd8c176 100644
--- a/dzgui/config/convert.py
+++ b/dzgui/config/convert.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 Convert legacy dztuirc to config.json
 """
 
+
 class UnsupportedKey(Exception):
     pass
 
@@ -59,7 +60,10 @@ def rc2json(file: Path) -> str:
                 ntok = lex.get_token().strip('""')
                 if ntok == ")":
                     break
-                ips.append(ntok)
+                # TODO: make test for this
+                # NOTE: strip malformed records from ancient config file versions
+                if len(ntok.split(":")) == 3 and ntok.split(":")[2] != "":
+                    ips.append(ntok)
             continue
 
         if not tok:
diff --git a/dzgui/model/servers.py b/dzgui/model/servers.py
index f008c24..2df1068 100644
--- a/dzgui/model/servers.py
+++ b/dzgui/model/servers.py
@@ -152,10 +152,6 @@ class ServerModelManager:
 
     @call_on_thread(dialog.fetching)
     def _dump_ips(self, ips: list[str]) -> None:
-        # NOTE: block malformed records (TODO: add github issue no.)
-        # TODO: sanitize ip list at config time and drop this
-        # TODO: make test for this
-        ips = [ip for ip in ips if len(ip.split(":")) == 3 and ip.split(":")[2] != ""]
         job = Servers.query_direct
         servers = []
         with ThreadPoolExecutor() as executor: