diff --git a/pytato/__init__.py b/pytato/__init__.py
index 0c6d27499..56254b928 100644
--- a/pytato/__init__.py
+++ b/pytato/__init__.py
@@ -28,19 +28,15 @@
 """
 
 # {{{ debug control
+
 import os
 
 from numpy import dtype
 
+from pytools import strtobool
 
-try:
-    v = os.environ.get("PYTATO_DEBUG")
-    if v is None:
-        v = ""
 
-    DEBUG_ENABLED = bool(eval(v))
-except Exception:
-    DEBUG_ENABLED = False
+DEBUG_ENABLED = strtobool(os.environ.get("PYTATO_DEBUG", "no"))
 
 
 def set_debug_enabled(flag: bool) -> None: