diff --git a/src/newsreader/conf/production.py b/src/newsreader/conf/production.py
index 66b6591..b25fe09 100644
--- a/src/newsreader/conf/production.py
+++ b/src/newsreader/conf/production.py
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ EMAIL_PORT = os.environ.get("EMAIL_PORT", 25)
 EMAIL_HOST_USER = os.environ.get("EMAIL_HOST_USER", "")
 EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD = os.environ.get("EMAIL_HOST_PASSWORD", "")
 
-EMAIL_USE_TLS = os.environ.get("EMAIL_USE_TLS", False)
-EMAIL_USE_SSL = os.environ.get("EMAIL_USE_SSL", False)
+EMAIL_USE_TLS = bool(os.environ.get("EMAIL_USE_TLS"))
+EMAIL_USE_SSL = bool(os.environ.get("EMAIL_USE_SSL"))
 
 # Reddit integration
 REDDIT_CLIENT_ID = os.environ.get("REDDIT_CLIENT_ID", "")