diff --git a/steakweb.py b/steakweb.py
index 6b43db0..6988dbf 100644
--- a/steakweb.py
+++ b/steakweb.py
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ async def create_extn(request):
         await init_db_pool()
 
     name = data.get('name', '')
-    publish = 't' if data.get('publish') else 'f'
+    publish = bool(data.get('publish'))
     if data['type'] == 'sip':
         switch = 11
         authcode = gen_sip_pw()
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ async def publish_extn(request):
     if check_auth_isadmin(session):
         n = await dbconn.execute("UPDATE registered_extensions SET publish = $2 WHERE extn = $1", int(data['extn']), data.get('published', '0')== '1')
     else:
-        n = await dbconn.execute("UPDATE registered_extensions SET publish = $2 WHERE extn = $1 AND userid = $3", int(data['extn']), data.get('publish', '1') == '1', int(session['uid']))
+        n = await dbconn.execute("UPDATE registered_extensions SET publish = $2 WHERE extn = $1 AND userid = $3", int(data['extn']), data.get('published', '0') == '1', int(session['uid']))
 
     if n != 'UPDATE 1':
         session['error'] = 'Could not change directory name; contact support'