diff --git a/pkg/runtime/conversion.go b/pkg/runtime/conversion.go
index 8b5cb419d29..5fb90d4eb66 100644
--- a/pkg/runtime/conversion.go
+++ b/pkg/runtime/conversion.go
@@ -67,13 +67,17 @@ func convertStringSliceToInt(input *[]string, out *int, s conversion.Scope) erro
 	return nil
 }
 
+// converStringSliceToBool will convert a string parameter to boolean.
+// Only the absence of a value, a value of "false", or a value of "0" resolve to false.
+// Any other value (including empty string) resolves to true.
 func convertStringSliceToBool(input *[]string, out *bool, s conversion.Scope) error {
 	if len(*input) == 0 {
 		*out = false
+		return nil
 	}
 	switch strings.ToLower((*input)[0]) {
-	case "true", "1":
-		*out = true
+	case "false", "0":
+		*out = false
 	default:
 		*out = true
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/runtime/conversion_test.go b/pkg/runtime/conversion_test.go
index a5a2dcfe179..926ea95dee7 100644
--- a/pkg/runtime/conversion_test.go
+++ b/pkg/runtime/conversion_test.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type InternalComplex struct {
 	Integer   int
 	Integer64 int64
 	Int64     int64
+	Bool      bool
 }
 
 type ExternalComplex struct {
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ type ExternalComplex struct {
 	Integer   int    `json:"int"`
 	Integer64 int64  `json:",omitempty"`
 	Int64     int64
+	Bool      bool `json:"bool"`
 }
 
 func (*InternalComplex) IsAnAPIObject() {}
@@ -82,6 +84,36 @@ func TestStringMapConversion(t *testing.T) {
 			errFn:    func(err error) bool { return err != nil },
 			expected: &ExternalComplex{},
 		},
+		"parses boolean true": {
+			input: map[string][]string{
+				"bool": {"true"},
+			},
+			expected: &ExternalComplex{Bool: true},
+		},
+		"parses boolean any value": {
+			input: map[string][]string{
+				"bool": {"foo"},
+			},
+			expected: &ExternalComplex{Bool: true},
+		},
+		"parses boolean false": {
+			input: map[string][]string{
+				"bool": {"false"},
+			},
+			expected: &ExternalComplex{Bool: false},
+		},
+		"parses boolean empty value": {
+			input: map[string][]string{
+				"bool": {""},
+			},
+			expected: &ExternalComplex{Bool: true},
+		},
+		"parses boolean no value": {
+			input: map[string][]string{
+				"bool": {},
+			},
+			expected: &ExternalComplex{Bool: false},
+		},
 	}
 
 	for k, tc := range testCases {