diff --git a/src/backend/settings.py b/src/backend/settings.py
index ba9191342bdcb3db2371a49c76d6777802b78c5d..e1c2ca894763c80a9b5bea0835e84a1b70e6c5db 100644
--- a/src/backend/settings.py
+++ b/src/backend/settings.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ mimetypes.add_type("text/javascript", ".js", True)
 SECRET_KEY = "django-insecure-4%wn*pt3vpdgk#==(qbtocdh#-2wr58py(ri=(0a^15&&n*gl9"
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = env("DEBUG")
+DEBUG = env("DEBUG", default=False) == "True"
 
 TESTING = env("TESTING", default="False")