diff --git a/mcserverwrapper/src/server_properties_helper.py b/mcserverwrapper/src/server_properties_helper.py
index fed86d4..0c37c98 100644
--- a/mcserverwrapper/src/server_properties_helper.py
+++ b/mcserverwrapper/src/server_properties_helper.py
@@ -3,17 +3,10 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import os
-import re
 from typing import Any
 
 from .mcversion import McVersion
 
-DEFAULT_PORT = 25565
-DEFAULT_MAX_PLAYERS = 20
-DEFAULT_ONLINE_MODE = "true"
-DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_PRE_1_19 = "default"
-DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19 = "minecraft\\:normal"
-
 ALL_PROPERTIES = [
     "port",
     "maxp",
@@ -21,6 +14,23 @@
     "levt"
 ]
 
+LEVEL_TYPES = {
+    "old": {
+        "default": "default",
+        "flat": "flat"
+    },
+    "post_1_19": {
+        "default": "minecraft\\:normal",
+        "flat": "minecraft\\:flat"
+    }
+}
+
+DEFAULT_PORT = 25565
+DEFAULT_MAX_PLAYERS = 20
+DEFAULT_ONLINE_MODE = "true"
+DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_OLD = LEVEL_TYPES["old"]["default"]
+DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_POST_1_19 = LEVEL_TYPES["post_1_19"]["default"]
+
 # how many different property args are allowed
 PROPERTY_ARGS_COUNT = len(ALL_PROPERTIES)
 
@@ -71,22 +81,21 @@ def parse_properties_args(server_path: str, server_property_args: dict | None, s
         server_property_args["onli"] = DEFAULT_ONLINE_MODE
     if "levt" not in server_property_args:
         if server_version.id < McVersion.version_name_to_id("1.19"):
-            server_property_args["levt"] = DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_PRE_1_19
+            server_property_args["levt"] = DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_OLD
         else:
-            server_property_args["levt"] = DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19
+            server_property_args["levt"] = DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_POST_1_19
 
-    # set default level type to the correct version
+    # convert level types
     if server_version.id < McVersion.version_name_to_id("1.19"):
-        if server_property_args["levt"] == DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19:
-            server_property_args["levt"] = DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_PRE_1_19
-        elif re.search(r"^minecraft\\\:*", server_property_args["levt"]) is not None:
-            server_property_args["levt"] = server_property_args["levt"].replace("minecraft\\:", "")
-
+        if server_property_args["levt"] in LEVEL_TYPES["post_1_19"].values():
+            for key, value in LEVEL_TYPES["post_1_19"].items():
+                if value == server_property_args["levt"]:
+                    server_property_args["levt"] = LEVEL_TYPES["old"][key]
     if server_version.id >= McVersion.version_name_to_id("1.19"):
-        if server_property_args["levt"] == DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_PRE_1_19:
-            server_property_args["levt"] = DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19
-        elif re.search(r"^minecraft\\\:*", server_property_args["levt"]) is None:
-            server_property_args["levt"] = "minecraft\\:" + server_property_args["levt"]
+        if server_property_args["levt"] in LEVEL_TYPES["old"].values():
+            for key, value in LEVEL_TYPES["old"].items():
+                if value == server_property_args["levt"]:
+                    server_property_args["levt"] = LEVEL_TYPES["post_1_19"][key]
 
     return server_property_args
 
diff --git a/mcserverwrapper/test/test_server_properties_helper.py b/mcserverwrapper/test/test_server_properties_helper.py
index d2cf820..8e508dd 100644
--- a/mcserverwrapper/test/test_server_properties_helper.py
+++ b/mcserverwrapper/test/test_server_properties_helper.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def test_parse_default_params():
     assert result["port"] == sph.DEFAULT_PORT
     assert result["maxp"] == sph.DEFAULT_MAX_PLAYERS
     assert result["onli"] == sph.DEFAULT_ONLINE_MODE
-    assert result["levt"] == sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19
+    assert result["levt"] == sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_POST_1_19
 
 def test_params_with_file():
     """Tests the helper with a server.properties file"""
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def test_parse_mixed_params_1():
     assert result["port"] == 25541
     assert result["maxp"] == sph.DEFAULT_MAX_PLAYERS
     assert result["onli"] == sph.DEFAULT_ONLINE_MODE
-    assert result["levt"] == sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19
+    assert result["levt"] == sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_POST_1_19
 
 def test_parse_mixed_params_2():
     """Tests the helper with custom and default params"""
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def test_parse_mixed_params_2():
     assert result["port"] == sph.DEFAULT_PORT
     assert result["maxp"] == 43
     assert result["onli"] == "false"
-    assert result["levt"] == sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19
+    assert result["levt"] == sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_POST_1_19
 
 def test_save_existing():
     """Tests the helper save function with valid params"""
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def test_save_existing():
         "port": 25546,
         "maxp": 21,
         "onli": "true",
-        "levt": sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_1_19
+        "levt": sph.DEFAULT_LEVEL_TYPE_POST_1_19
     }
 
     sph.save_properties(props_path, props)