diff --git a/backend/perktree/settings.py b/backend/perktree/settings.py
index 214b7ff..95b96ea 100644
--- a/backend/perktree/settings.py
+++ b/backend/perktree/settings.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/2.1/ref/settings/
 """
 
 import os
+from distutils.util import strtobool
 
 ENV = os.environ.get('DJANGO_ENV')
 if not ENV:
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 SECRET_KEY = '^j_x7a7u_#9ruh3p^h=*my_k+asoqob&xq@5n^2n2f(7$#dk(#' if ENV == 'dev' else os.environ.get('SECRET_KEY')
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = os.environ.get('DJANGO_DEBUG', True)
+DEBUG = bool(strtobool(os.environ.get('DJANGO_DEBUG', 'true')))
 
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = [
 	'perktree.localhost',
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 288fbe4..b90284b 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ services:
     environment:
       SECRET_KEY: ${SECRET_KEY}
       DJANGO_ENV: prod
-      DJANGO_DEBUG: True
+      DJANGO_DEBUG: 'true'
       DJANGO_ADMIN_USER: ${DJANGO_ADMIN_USER}
       DJANGO_ADMIN_MAIL: ${DJANGO_ADMIN_MAIL}
       DJANGO_ADMIN_PASS: ${DJANGO_ADMIN_PASS}