diff --git a/robosats/routing.py b/robosats/routing.py
index 0210e6ce..3bf284e7 100644
--- a/robosats/routing.py
+++ b/robosats/routing.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ protocols["websocket"] = AuthMiddlewareStack(
     )
 )
 
-if config("DEVELOPMENT", default=False):
+if config("DEVELOPMENT", cast=bool, default=False):
     protocols["http"] = django_asgi_app
 
 application = ProtocolTypeRouter(protocols)
diff --git a/robosats/settings.py b/robosats/settings.py
index 71c3c285..f2a92677 100644
--- a/robosats/settings.py
+++ b/robosats/settings.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ with open("version.json") as f:
     VERSION = json.load(f)
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-if config("DEVELOPMENT", default=False):
+if config("DEVELOPMENT", cast=bool, default=False):
     DEBUG = True
 
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = [