diff --git a/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py b/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py
index b747341de4..c93ad14339 100755
--- a/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py
+++ b/selfdrive/controls/controlsd.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class Controls(object):
   
     # rear view camera state
     self.rear_view_toggle = False
-    self.rear_view_allowed = bool(params.get("IsRearViewMirror"))
+    self.rear_view_allowed = (params.get("IsRearViewMirror") == "1")
   
     self.v_cruise_kph = 255