diff --git a/python/damask/_config.py b/python/damask/_config.py
index f2ffbbbf3..24245f4bd 100644
--- a/python/damask/_config.py
+++ b/python/damask/_config.py
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ class Config(dict):
 
         NiceDumper.add_representer(np.ndarray, array_representer)
 
-        fhandle.write(yaml.dump(self,Dumper=NiceDumper,**kwargs))
+        try:
+            fhandle.write(yaml.dump(self,Dumper=NiceDumper,**kwargs))
+        except TypeError:                                                                           # compatibility with old pyyaml
+            del kwargs['sort_keys']
+            fhandle.write(yaml.dump(self,Dumper=NiceDumper,**kwargs))
 
 
     @property
diff --git a/python/tests/test_Config.py b/python/tests/test_Config.py
index e715ad763..67c419b3e 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_Config.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_Config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import pytest
+import numpy as np
 
 from damask import Config
 
@@ -29,6 +30,8 @@ class TestConfig:
             f.write(config.__repr__())
         assert Config.load(tmp_path/'config.yaml') == config
 
+    def test_numpy(self,tmp_path):
+        assert Config({'A':np.ones(3,'i')}).__repr__() == Config({'A':[1,1,1]}).__repr__()
 
     def test_abstract_is_valid(self):
         assert Config().is_valid is None