diff --git a/deploy-board/deploy_board/settings.py b/deploy-board/deploy_board/settings.py
index 4a631ae74f..3f188248b3 100644
--- a/deploy-board/deploy_board/settings.py
+++ b/deploy-board/deploy_board/settings.py
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@
 RODIMUS_SERVICE_VERSION = os.getenv("RODIMUS_SERVICE_VERSION", None)
 RODIMUS_SERVICE_PROXY_HTTP = os.getenv("RODIMUS_SERVICE_PROXY_HTTP", None)
 RODIMUS_SERVICE_PROXY_HTTPS = os.getenv("RODIMUS_SERVICE_PROXY_HTTPS", None)
-RODIMUS_SERVICE_USE_BEARER = os.getenv("RODIMUS_SERVICE_USE_BEARER", True)
+RODIMUS_SERVICE_USE_BEARER = os.getenv("RODIMUS_SERVICE_USE_BEARER", "true").lower() != "false"  # default is True
 
 if IS_PINTEREST:
     # use knox if present