diff --git a/khaganat/settings.py b/khaganat/settings.py
index 756e55e..e64c3e3 100644
--- a/khaganat/settings.py
+++ b/khaganat/settings.py
@@ -14,6 +14,14 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 from django.urls import reverse_lazy
 import os
 
+
+def get_config_bool(env_name, default=False):
+    val = os.getenv(env_name, default='').lower()
+    if val == '':
+        return default
+    return val in ('true', '1', 't', 'y', 'yes')
+
+
 # Build paths inside the project like this: os.path.join(BASE_DIR, ...)
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 
@@ -25,7 +33,7 @@ BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
 SECRET_KEY = os.getenv('KHAGANAT_SECRET_KEY')
 
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
-DEBUG = bool(os.getenv('KHAGANAT_DEBUG', default=''))
+DEBUG = get_config_bool('KHAGANAT_DEBUG', default=False)
 
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = [
     _ for _ in os.getenv('KHAGANAT_HOSTNAMES', default='').split(',')
@@ -102,7 +110,10 @@ EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = os.getenv('KHAGANAT_EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD', default='')
 EMAIL_USE_TLS = os.getenv('KHAGANAT_EMAIL_USE_TLS', default='')
 
 EMAIL_SUBJECT_PREFIX = os.getenv('KHAGANAT_EMAIL_SUBJECT_PREFIX', default='')
-DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = os.getenv('KHAGANAT_DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL', default='no-reply@localhost')
+DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = os.getenv(
+    'KHAGANAT_DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL',
+    default='no-reply@localhost'
+)
 
 
 # User model
@@ -110,8 +121,13 @@ DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL = os.getenv('KHAGANAT_DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL', default='no-reply@
 
 AUTH_USER_MODEL = 'neluser.NelUser'
 LOGIN_URL = os.getenv('KHAGANAT_LOGIN_URL', default='/account/login/')
-LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL = reverse_lazy(os.getenv('KHAGANAT_LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL', default='index'))
-REGISTER_REQUIRE_VALIDATION = bool(os.getenv('KHAGANAT_REGISTER_REQUIRE_VALIDATION', default='True'))
+LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL = reverse_lazy(
+    os.getenv('KHAGANAT_LOGIN_REDIRECT_URL', default='index')
+)
+REGISTER_REQUIRE_VALIDATION = get_config_bool(
+    'KHAGANAT_REGISTER_REQUIRE_VALIDATION',
+    default=True
+)
 
 
 # Password validation