diff --git a/global_install_scripts/talisman_hook_script.bash b/global_install_scripts/talisman_hook_script.bash
index 1a7d1d5b..31b13735 100755
--- a/global_install_scripts/talisman_hook_script.bash
+++ b/global_install_scripts/talisman_hook_script.bash
@@ -73,9 +73,9 @@ if [[ -f .talisman_skip || -f .talisman_skip.${HOOKNAME} ]]; then
 fi
 
 DEBUG_OPTS=""
-[[ -n "${TALISMAN_DEBUG}" ]] && DEBUG_OPTS="-d"
+[[ "${TALISMAN_DEBUG}" == "true" ]] && DEBUG_OPTS="-d"
 INTERACTIVE=""
-[[ -n "${TALISMAN_INTERACTIVE}" ]] && INTERACTIVE="-i"
+[[ "${TALISMAN_INTERACTIVE}" == "true" ]] && INTERACTIVE="-i"
 
 CMD="${TALISMAN_BINARY} ${DEBUG_OPTS} --githook ${HOOKNAME} ${INTERACTIVE}"
 echo_debug "ARGS are $@"