diff --git a/backend/backend/settings/base.py b/backend/backend/settings/base.py
index bb62960ae0..279ac463b5 100644
--- a/backend/backend/settings/base.py
+++ b/backend/backend/settings/base.py
@@ -689,4 +689,6 @@ def filter(self, record):
     )
     raise ValueError(ERROR_MESSAGE)
 
-ENABLE_HIGHLIGHT_API_DEPLOYMENT = os.environ.get("ENABLE_HIGHLIGHT_API_DEPLOYMENT", False)
+ENABLE_HIGHLIGHT_API_DEPLOYMENT = CommonUtils.str_to_bool(
+    os.environ.get("ENABLE_HIGHLIGHT_API_DEPLOYMENT", "False")
+)