diff --git a/fail2ban/client/configreader.py b/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
index 2248ec34..b03daca9 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import os
 from ConfigParser import NoOptionError, NoSectionError
 
 from .configparserinc import sys, SafeConfigParserWithIncludes, logLevel
-from ..helpers import getLogger, _merge_dicts, substituteRecursiveTags
+from ..helpers import getLogger, _as_bool, _merge_dicts, substituteRecursiveTags
 
 # Gets the instance of the logger.
 logSys = getLogger(__name__)
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ class DefinitionInitConfigReader(ConfigReader):
 
 
 	def _convert_to_boolean(self, value):
-		return value.lower() in ("1", "yes", "true", "on")
+		return _as_bool(value)
 	
 	def getCombOption(self, optname):
 		"""Get combined definition option (as string) using pre-set and init
diff --git a/fail2ban/helpers.py b/fail2ban/helpers.py
index 7d6b5ce2..f7b0f1eb 100644
--- a/fail2ban/helpers.py
+++ b/fail2ban/helpers.py
@@ -244,6 +244,10 @@ else:
 			return uni_decode(x, enc, 'replace')
 
 
+def _as_bool(val):
+	return bool(val) if not isinstance(val, basestring) \
+		else val.lower() in ('1', 'on', 'true', 'yes')
+
 #
 # Following function used for parse options from parameter (e.g. `name[p1=0, p2="..."][p3='...']`).
 #
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/server.py b/fail2ban/server/server.py
index 17cfe016..5ae3d807 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/server.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/server.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ from .filter import FileFilter, JournalFilter
 from .transmitter import Transmitter
 from .asyncserver import AsyncServer, AsyncServerException
 from .. import version
-from ..helpers import getLogger, extractOptions, str2LogLevel, getVerbosityFormat, excepthook
+from ..helpers import getLogger, _as_bool, extractOptions, str2LogLevel, \
+	getVerbosityFormat, excepthook
 
 # Gets the instance of the logger.
 logSys = getLogger(__name__)
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ class Server:
 	
 	# Filter
 	def setIgnoreSelf(self, name, value):
-		self.__jails[name].filter.ignoreSelf = value
+		self.__jails[name].filter.ignoreSelf = _as_bool(value)
 	
 	def getIgnoreSelf(self, name):
 		return self.__jails[name].filter.ignoreSelf
@@ -628,11 +629,11 @@ class Server:
 			# If handler don't already add date to the message:
 			addtime = logOptions.get('datetime')
 			if addtime is not None:
-				addtime = addtime in ('1', 'on', 'true', 'yes')
+				addtime = _as_bool(addtime)
 			else:
 				addtime = systarget not in ("SYSLOG", "SYSOUT")
 			if padding is not None:
-				padding = padding in ('1', 'on', 'true', 'yes') 
+				padding = _as_bool(padding) 
 			else:
 				padding = True
 			# If log-format is redefined in options: