diff --git a/litecord/blueprints/users.py b/litecord/blueprints/users.py
index fc8fb00..e1c5719 100644
--- a/litecord/blueprints/users.py
+++ b/litecord/blueprints/users.py
@@ -136,38 +136,10 @@ async def put_note(target_id: int):
 
 @bp.route('/@me/settings', methods=['GET'])
 async def get_user_settings():
-    # TODO: for now, just return hardcoded defaults,
-    # once we get the user_settings table working
-    # we can move to that.
-    await token_check()
-
-    return jsonify({
-        'afk_timeout': 300,
-        'animate_emoji': True,
-        'convert_emoticons': False,
-        'default_guilds_restricted': True,
-        'detect_platform_accounts': False,
-        'developer_mode': True,
-        'disable_games_tab': True,
-        'enable_tts_command': False,
-        'explicit_content_filter': 2,
-        'friend_source_flags': {
-            'mutual_friends': True
-            },
-        'gif_auto_play': True,
-        'guild_positions': [],
-        'restricted_guilds': [],
-        'inline_attachment_media': True,
-        'inline_embed_media': True,
-        'locale': 'en-US',
-        'message_display_compact': False,
-        'render_embeds': True,
-        'render_reactions': True,
-        'show_current_game': True,
-        'status': 'online',
-        'theme': 'dark',
-        'timezone_offset': 420,
-    })
+    """Get the current user's settings."""
+    user_id = await token_check()
+    settings = await app.storage.get_user_settings(user_id)
+    return jsonify(settings)
 
 
 @bp.route('/@me/settings', methods=['PATCH'])
diff --git a/litecord/storage.py b/litecord/storage.py
index 3a3b56d..1e77e44 100644
--- a/litecord/storage.py
+++ b/litecord/storage.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import json
 from typing import List, Dict, Any
 
 from logbook import Logger
@@ -17,12 +18,45 @@ def dict_(val):
     return dict(val) if val else None
 
 
+async def _set_json(con):
+    """Set JSON and JSONB codecs for an
+    asyncpg connection."""
+    await con.set_type_codec(
+        'json',
+        encoder=json.dumps,
+        decoder=json.loads,
+        schema='pg_catalog'
+    )
+
+    await con.set_type_codec(
+        'jsonb',
+        encoder=json.dumps,
+        decoder=json.loads,
+        schema='pg_catalog'
+    )
+
+
 class Storage:
     """Class for common SQL statements."""
     def __init__(self, db):
         self.db = db
         self.presence = None
 
+    async def _fetchrow_with_json(self, query: str, *args):
+        """Fetch a single row with JSON/JSONB support."""
+        # the pool by itself doesn't have
+        # set_type_codec, so we must set it manually
+        # by acquiring the connection
+        async with self.db.acquire() as con:
+            await _set_json(con)
+            return await con.fetchrow(query, *args)
+
+    async def _fetch_with_json(self, query: str, *args):
+        """Fetch many rows with JSON/JSONB support."""
+        async with self.db.acquire() as con:
+            await _set_json(con)
+            return await con.fetch(query, *args)
+
     async def get_user(self, user_id, secure=False) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         """Get a single user payload."""
         user_id = int(user_id)
@@ -500,3 +534,26 @@ class Storage:
         dinv['inviter'] = inviter
 
         return dinv
+
+    async def get_user_settings(self, user_id: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        row = await self._fetchrow_with_json("""
+        SELECT *
+        FROM user_settings
+        WHERE id = $1
+        """, user_id)
+
+        if not row:
+            log.info('Generating user settings for {}', user_id)
+
+            await self.db.execute("""
+            INSERT INTO user_settings (id)
+            VALUES ($1)
+            """, user_id)
+
+            # recalling get_user_settings
+            # should work after adding
+            return await self.get_user_settings(user_id)
+
+        drow = dict(row)
+        drow.pop('id')
+        return drow
diff --git a/run.py b/run.py
index 34e9c60..3bb7036 100644
--- a/run.py
+++ b/run.py
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ async def app_after_request(resp):
 async def app_before_serving():
     log.info('opening db')
     app.db = await asyncpg.create_pool(**app.config['POSTGRES'])
+
     g.app = app
 
     app.loop = asyncio.get_event_loop()