diff --git a/src/postTools.js b/src/postTools.js
index 7fcd9fe464..506868ff95 100644
--- a/src/postTools.js
+++ b/src/postTools.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ var db = require('./database'),
 		}
 
 		function hasEnoughRep(next) {
-			if (meta.config['privileges:disabled']) {
+			if (parseInt(meta.config['privileges:disabled'], 10)) {
 				return next(null, false);
 			} else {
 				user.getUserField(uid, 'reputation', function(err, reputation) {
diff --git a/src/threadTools.js b/src/threadTools.js
index 5566b8fc9a..ba4ec6fe49 100644
--- a/src/threadTools.js
+++ b/src/threadTools.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ var db = require('./database'),
 				});
 			},
 			hasEnoughRep: function(next) {
-				if (meta.config['privileges:disabled']) {
+				if (parseInt(meta.config['privileges:disabled'], 10)) {
 					return next(null, false);
 				} else {
 					user.getUserField(uid, 'reputation', function(err, reputation) {