diff --git a/core/js/config.php b/core/js/config.php
index 708da777ee..9ea8f3864d 100644
--- a/core/js/config.php
+++ b/core/js/config.php
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ $array = array(
 			'session_keepalive'	=> \OCP\Config::getSystemValue('session_keepalive', true),
 			'version'			=> implode('.', \OCP\Util::getVersion()),
 			'versionstring'		=> OC_Util::getVersionString(),
-			'enable_avatars'	=> \OC::$server->getConfig()->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true),
+			'enable_avatars'	=> \OC::$server->getConfig()->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true) === true,
 			'lost_password_link'=> \OC::$server->getConfig()->getSystemValue('lost_password_link', null),
 			'modRewriteWorking'	=> (getenv('front_controller_active') === 'true'),
 		)
diff --git a/lib/private/templatelayout.php b/lib/private/templatelayout.php
index 7f17ab1533..bc66c0dfb1 100644
--- a/lib/private/templatelayout.php
+++ b/lib/private/templatelayout.php
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class TemplateLayout extends \OC_Template {
 			$this->assign('user_displayname', $userDisplayName);
 			$this->assign('user_uid', \OC_User::getUser());
 			$this->assign('appsmanagement_active', $appsMgmtActive);
-			$this->assign('enableAvatars', $this->config->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true));
+			$this->assign('enableAvatars', $this->config->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true) === true);
 
 			if (\OC_User::getUser() === false) {
 				$this->assign('userAvatarSet', false);
diff --git a/settings/personal.php b/settings/personal.php
index 261a459a92..d2d4fc90f5 100644
--- a/settings/personal.php
+++ b/settings/personal.php
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ $tmpl->assign('activelanguage', $userLang);
 $tmpl->assign('passwordChangeSupported', OC_User::canUserChangePassword(OC_User::getUser()));
 $tmpl->assign('displayNameChangeSupported', OC_User::canUserChangeDisplayName(OC_User::getUser()));
 $tmpl->assign('displayName', OC_User::getDisplayName());
-$tmpl->assign('enableAvatars', $config->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true));
+$tmpl->assign('enableAvatars', $config->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true) === true);
 $tmpl->assign('avatarChangeSupported', OC_User::canUserChangeAvatar(OC_User::getUser()));
 $tmpl->assign('certs', $certificateManager->listCertificates());
 $tmpl->assign('showCertificates', $enableCertImport);
diff --git a/settings/users.php b/settings/users.php
index 9d89ff65b4..0dff85c1ad 100644
--- a/settings/users.php
+++ b/settings/users.php
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ $tmpl->assign('quota_preset', $quotaPreset);
 $tmpl->assign('default_quota', $defaultQuota);
 $tmpl->assign('defaultQuotaIsUserDefined', $defaultQuotaIsUserDefined);
 $tmpl->assign('recoveryAdminEnabled', $recoveryAdminEnabled);
-$tmpl->assign('enableAvatars', \OC::$server->getConfig()->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true));
+$tmpl->assign('enableAvatars', \OC::$server->getConfig()->getSystemValue('enable_avatars', true) === true);
 
 $tmpl->assign('show_storage_location', $config->getAppValue('core', 'umgmt_show_storage_location', 'false'));
 $tmpl->assign('show_last_login', $config->getAppValue('core', 'umgmt_show_last_login', 'false'));