diff --git a/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js b/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js
index da1a07d53f..bac1c5feb3 100644
--- a/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js
+++ b/core/server/data/importer/importers/data/settings.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const models = require('../../../../models');
 const defaultSettings = require('../../../schema').defaultSettings;
 const keyGroupMapper = require('../../../../api/shared/serializers/input/utils/settings-key-group-mapper');
 const keyTypeMapper = require('../../../../api/shared/serializers/input/utils/settings-key-type-mapper');
+const {WRITABLE_KEYS_ALLOWLIST} = require('../../../../services/labs');
 
 const labsDefaults = JSON.parse(defaultSettings.labs.labs.defaultValue);
 const ignoredSettings = ['slack_url', 'members_from_address', 'members_support_address'];
@@ -207,9 +208,18 @@ class SettingsImporter extends BaseImporter {
 
         _.each(this.dataToImport, (obj) => {
             if (obj.key === 'labs' && obj.value) {
+                const inputLabsValue = JSON.parse(obj.value);
+                const filteredLabsValue = {};
+
+                for (const flag in inputLabsValue) {
+                    if (WRITABLE_KEYS_ALLOWLIST.includes(flag)) {
+                        filteredLabsValue[flag] = inputLabsValue[flag];
+                    }
+                }
+
                 // Overwrite the labs setting with our current defaults
                 // Ensures things that are enabled in new versions, are turned on
-                obj.value = JSON.stringify(_.assign({}, JSON.parse(obj.value), labsDefaults));
+                obj.value = JSON.stringify(_.assign({}, filteredLabsValue, labsDefaults));
             }
 
             // CASE: we do not import "from address" for members settings as that needs to go via validation with magic link
diff --git a/test/regression/importer/v2_spec.js b/test/regression/importer/v2_spec.js
index f1f38987a1..83696d98d6 100644
--- a/test/regression/importer/v2_spec.js
+++ b/test/regression/importer/v2_spec.js
@@ -821,12 +821,12 @@ describe('Integration: Importer', function () {
                 });
         });
 
-        it('does not import settings: labs', function () {
+        it('does import settings: labs', function () {
             const exportData = exportedBodyV2().db[0];
 
             exportData.data.settings[0] = testUtils.DataGenerator.forKnex.createSetting({
                 key: 'labs',
-                value: JSON.stringify({members: true})
+                value: JSON.stringify({activitypub: true})
             });
 
             return dataImporter.doImport(exportData, importOptions)
@@ -835,7 +835,29 @@ describe('Integration: Importer', function () {
                     return models.Settings.findOne(_.merge({key: 'labs'}, testUtils.context.internal));
                 })
                 .then(function (result) {
-                    should.equal(result, null);
+                    should.equal(result.attributes.key, 'labs');
+                    should.equal(result.attributes.group, 'labs');
+                    should.equal(result.attributes.value, '{"activitypub":true}');
+                });
+        });
+
+        it('does not import unknown settings: labs', function () {
+            const exportData = exportedBodyV2().db[0];
+
+            exportData.data.settings[0] = testUtils.DataGenerator.forKnex.createSetting({
+                key: 'labs',
+                value: JSON.stringify({gibberish: true})
+            });
+
+            return dataImporter.doImport(exportData, importOptions)
+                .then(function (imported) {
+                    imported.problems.length.should.eql(0);
+                    return models.Settings.findOne(_.merge({key: 'labs'}, testUtils.context.internal));
+                })
+                .then(function (result) {
+                    should.equal(result.attributes.key, 'labs');
+                    should.equal(result.attributes.group, 'labs');
+                    should.equal(result.attributes.value, '{}');
                 });
         });