diff --git a/src/prestart.js b/src/prestart.js
index dcc64cf527..1d5a5146ab 100644
--- a/src/prestart.js
+++ b/src/prestart.js
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ function loadConfig(configFile) {
 	});
 	nconf.stores.env.readOnly = true;
 
-	nconf.set('runJobs', nconf.get('isPrimary') && !nconf.get('jobsDisabled'));
+	nconf.set('runJobs', nconf.get('isPrimary') === 'true' && !nconf.get('jobsDisabled'));
 }
 
 function versionCheck() {
diff --git a/src/start.js b/src/start.js
index c8b0905b32..427a58830b 100644
--- a/src/start.js
+++ b/src/start.js
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ start.start = function () {
 			var webserver = require('./webserver');
 			require('./socket.io').init(webserver.server);
 
-			if (nconf.get('isPrimary') === 'true' && !nconf.get('jobsDisabled')) {
+			if (nconf.get('runJobs')) {
 				require('./notifications').startJobs();
 				require('./user').startJobs();
 			}