diff --git a/mysql/defaults/main.yml b/mysql/defaults/main.yml
index af43f495..871dd599 100644
--- a/mysql/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/mysql/defaults/main.yml
@@ -59,5 +59,5 @@ mysql_binlog_format: mixed
 mysql_server_id: null
 mysql_bind_address: null
 mysql_repl_password: ''
-mysql_read_only: 0
+mysql_read_only: False
 
diff --git a/mysql/templates/evolinux-custom.cnf.j2 b/mysql/templates/evolinux-custom.cnf.j2
index 119943a1..cc66df94 100644
--- a/mysql/templates/evolinux-custom.cnf.j2
+++ b/mysql/templates/evolinux-custom.cnf.j2
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ lower_case_table_names = {{ mysql_lower_case_table_names }}
 {% if mysql_innodb_log_file_size %}
 innodb_log_file_size = {{ mysql_innodb_log_file_size }}
 {% endif %}
-read_only = {{ mysql_read_only }}
+read_only = {{ mysql_read_only | bool | ternary('1','0') }}
 {% if mysql_performance_schema %}
 performance_schema = ON
 performance-schema-instrument='stage/%=ON'