diff --git a/samples/backchannel/index.html b/samples/backchannel/index.html
index d5bef9ad44..01725939f0 100644
--- a/samples/backchannel/index.html
+++ b/samples/backchannel/index.html
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ <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'],
diff --git a/samples/standalone/index.html b/samples/standalone/index.html
index 24327dd0ad..5133bf191b 100644
--- a/samples/standalone/index.html
+++ b/samples/standalone/index.html
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
                 name: params["botname"] || 'botname'
             };
             
-            window['botchatDebug'] = params['debug'];
+            window['botchatDebug'] = params['debug'] && params['debug'] === "true";
 
             BotChat.App({
                 directLine: {