diff --git a/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py
index df62aeb2e40..7fe031be839 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class ConditionalDependencies:
         return 's3fs' in self.file_sources
 
     def check_watchdog(self):
-        install_set = {'auto', 'True', 'true', 'polling'}
+        install_set = {'auto', 'True', 'true', 'polling', True}
         return (self.config['watch_tools'] in install_set
                 or self.config['watch_tool_data_dir'] in install_set)