diff --git a/npm/install.js b/npm/install.js
index d0a590727dad..cf9d57037a00 100755
--- a/npm/install.js
+++ b/npm/install.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ if (installedVersion === version && fs.existsSync(path.join(__dirname, paths[pla
 }
 
 // downloads if not cached
-download({version: version, platform: process.env.npm_config_platform, arch: process.env.npm_config_arch, strictSSL: process.env.npm_config_strict_ssl}, extractFile)
+download({version: version, platform: process.env.npm_config_platform, arch: process.env.npm_config_arch, strictSSL: process.env.npm_config_strict_ssl === 'true'}, extractFile)
 
 // unzips and makes path.txt point at the correct executable
 function extractFile (err, zipPath) {