diff --git a/app/models/concerns/pdf_behavior.rb b/app/models/concerns/pdf_behavior.rb
index 617d0180f..86cd5a6c8 100644
--- a/app/models/concerns/pdf_behavior.rb
+++ b/app/models/concerns/pdf_behavior.rb
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ module PdfBehavior
 
     # This is here so that the checkbox is checked by default
     def set_default_show_pdf_viewer
-      self.show_pdf_viewer ||= 'true'
+      self.show_pdf_viewer ||= true
     end
 
     def set_default_show_pdf_download_button
-      self.show_pdf_download_button ||= 'true'
+      self.show_pdf_download_button ||= true
     end
 end