diff --git a/config/environments/development.rb b/config/environments/development.rb
index 1c3101ca7..ddcca9b21 100644
--- a/config/environments/development.rb
+++ b/config/environments/development.rb
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ Rails.application.configure do
   config.action_view.raise_on_missing_translations = true
 
   # Enable/disable Deface
-  config.deface.enabled = ENV['DEFACE_ENABLED'] == 'true'
+  config.deface.enabled = ENV['DEFACE_ENABLED'] != 'false'
 
   # Enable first-time tutorial for users signing in the sciNote for
   # the first time.
diff --git a/config/environments/production.rb b/config/environments/production.rb
index a7c63d0be..197f1a42c 100644
--- a/config/environments/production.rb
+++ b/config/environments/production.rb
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ Rails.application.configure do
   config.active_record.dump_schema_after_migration = false
 
   # Enable/disable Deface
-  config.deface.enabled = ENV['DEFACE_ENABLED'] == 'true'
+  config.deface.enabled = ENV['DEFACE_ENABLED'] != 'false'
 
   # Enable first-time tutorial for users signing in the sciNote for
   # the first time.
diff --git a/config/environments/test.rb b/config/environments/test.rb
index 27782d2b6..f917df2bd 100644
--- a/config/environments/test.rb
+++ b/config/environments/test.rb
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ Rails.application.configure do
   # config.action_view.raise_on_missing_translations = true
 
   # Enable/disable Deface
-  config.deface.enabled = ENV['DEFACE_ENABLED'] == 'true'
+  config.deface.enabled = ENV['DEFACE_ENABLED'] != 'false'
 
   # Enable first-time tutorial for users signing in the sciNote for
   # the first time.