diff --git a/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py b/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py
index 2587a4bc5de..5fc4fe47d37 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/dependencies/__init__.py
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ class ConditionalDependencies(object):
         return 'irods' in self.object_stores
 
     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)