diff --git a/src/c3nav/settings.py b/src/c3nav/settings.py
index fcfd9d68..6486ad66 100644
--- a/src/c3nav/settings.py
+++ b/src/c3nav/settings.py
@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ if not os.path.exists(TILES_ROOT):
 if not os.path.exists(CACHE_ROOT):
     os.mkdir(CACHE_ROOT)
 
-PUBLIC_EDITOR = config.get('c3nav', 'editor', fallback=True)
-PUBLIC_BASE_MAPDATA = config.get('c3nav', 'public_base_mapdata', fallback=False)
+PUBLIC_EDITOR = config.getboolean('c3nav', 'editor', fallback=True)
+PUBLIC_BASE_MAPDATA = config.getboolean('c3nav', 'public_base_mapdata', fallback=False)
 
 if config.has_option('django', 'secret'):
     SECRET_KEY = config.get('django', 'secret')