diff --git a/packages/convict/src/main.js b/packages/convict/src/main.js
index 2474998..edb36a8 100644
--- a/packages/convict/src/main.js
+++ b/packages/convict/src/main.js
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ function coerce(k, v, schema, instance) {
     case 'int': v = parseInt(v, 10); break
     case 'port_or_windows_named_pipe': v = isWindowsNamedPipe(v) ? v : parseInt(v, 10); break
     case 'number': v = parseFloat(v); break
-    case 'boolean': v = String(v).toLowerCase() !== 'false'; break
+    case 'boolean': v = parseBoolean(v); break
     case 'array': v = v.split(','); break
     case 'object': v = JSON.parse(v); break
     case 'regexp': v = new RegExp(v); break
@@ -422,6 +422,14 @@ function coerce(k, v, schema, instance) {
   return v
 }
 
+function parseBoolean(v) {
+  if (String(v).toLowerCase() === 'false') {
+    return false
+  }
+
+  return Boolean(v)
+}
+
 function loadFile(path) {
   const segments = path.split('.')
   const extension = segments.length > 1 ? segments.pop() : ''
diff --git a/packages/convict/test/format.test.js b/packages/convict/test/format.test.js
index 92e1cbd..e01ffce 100644
--- a/packages/convict/test/format.test.js
+++ b/packages/convict/test/format.test.js
@@ -94,12 +94,22 @@ describe('convict formats', function() {
         optional: {
           format: '*',
           default: undefined
+        },
+        boolean: {
+          format: Boolean,
+          default: false
         }
       }
     })
 
   })
 
+  test('validates empty string boolean', function() {
+    conf.set('foo.boolean', '')
+    const val = conf.get('foo.boolean')
+    expect(val).toBe(false)
+  })
+
   test('validates default schema', function() {
     expect(function() {
       conf.validate()