diff --git a/samples/backchannel/index.html b/samples/backchannel/index.html
index a0c597be08..01725939f0 100644
--- a/samples/backchannel/index.html
+++ b/samples/backchannel/index.html
@@ -59,13 +59,13 @@ <h2 style="font-family:Segoe UI;">Type a color into the WebChat!</h2>
                 name: params["botname"] || 'botname'
             };
 
-            window['botchatDebug'] = params['debug'];
+            window['botchatDebug'] = params['debug'] && params['debug'] === "true";
 
             var botConnection = new BotChat.DirectLine({
                 secret: params['s'],
                 token: params['t'],
                 domain: params['domain'],
-                webSocket: params['webSocket'] // defaults to true
+                webSocket: params['webSocket'] && params['webSocket'] === "true" // defaults to true
             });
 
             BotChat.App({
diff --git a/samples/standalone/index.html b/samples/standalone/index.html
index 68bc7cdced..5133bf191b 100644
--- a/samples/standalone/index.html
+++ b/samples/standalone/index.html
@@ -44,14 +44,14 @@
                 name: params["botname"] || 'botname'
             };
             
-            window['botchatDebug'] = params['debug'];
+            window['botchatDebug'] = params['debug'] && params['debug'] === "true";
 
             BotChat.App({
                 directLine: {
                     secret: params['s'],
                     token: params['t'],
                     domain: params['domain'],
-                    webSocket: params['webSocket'] // defaults to true
+                    webSocket: params['webSocket'] && params['webSocket'] === "true" // defaults to true
                 },
                 user: user,
                 bot: bot,