diff --git a/etemplate/inc/class.ajax_select_widget.inc.php b/etemplate/inc/class.ajax_select_widget.inc.php
index 5e31f9fbf2..9b6e1fb822 100644
--- a/etemplate/inc/class.ajax_select_widget.inc.php
+++ b/etemplate/inc/class.ajax_select_widget.inc.php
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@
 				// sometimes it sends 'null' (not null)
 				if($row == 'null') {
 					unset($query[$key]);
-				} elseif (strtolower($row) == 'false') {
+				} elseif (is_string($row) && strtolower($row) == 'false') {
 					$row = false;
 				}
 			}