diff --git a/app/helpers/auth_helper.rb b/app/helpers/auth_helper.rb
index fe200ebc6..e0de38613 100644
--- a/app/helpers/auth_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/auth_helper.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def devise?
   end
 
   def ptime_available?
-    ActiveModel::Type::Boolean.new.cast(ENV.fetch('PTIME_API_ACCESSIBLE', true))
+    ActiveModel::Type::Boolean.new.cast(ENV.fetch('PTIME_API_ACCESSIBLE'))
   end
 
   def language_selector