diff --git a/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/ConfigRegistry.java b/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/ConfigRegistry.java
index e117c985c..723e20373 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/ConfigRegistry.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/threerings/admin/server/ConfigRegistry.java
@@ -319,10 +319,7 @@ public abstract class ConfigRegistry
                     }
 
                     try {
-                        ByteArrayInputStream bin =
-                            new ByteArrayInputStream(StringUtil.unhexlate(value));
-                        ObjectInputStream oin = createObjectInputStream(bin);
-                        Object deserializedValue = oin.readObject();
+                        Object deserializedValue = deserialize(value);
                         field.set(object, deserializedValue);
                         if (_transitioning) {
                             // Use serialize rather than serializeAttribute so we don't get
@@ -384,6 +381,17 @@ public abstract class ConfigRegistry
             }
         }
 
+        /**
+         * Deserializes the object contained in the specified string.
+         */
+        protected Object deserialize (String value)
+            throws Exception
+        {
+            ByteArrayInputStream bin = new ByteArrayInputStream(StringUtil.unhexlate(value));
+            ObjectInputStream oin = createObjectInputStream(bin);
+            return oin.readObject();
+        }
+
         /**
          * Converts a config object field name (someConfigMember) to a configuration key
          * (some_config_member).