diff --git a/eventPage.js b/eventPage.js
index 5f97f1c3..be72ef57 100644
--- a/eventPage.js
+++ b/eventPage.js
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ chrome.runtime.onInstalled.addListener(function (details) {
         // only fire up notification sequence when one of the major version numbers changed
         if (currentVersionArr[0] != previousVersionArr[0] || currentVersionArr[1] != previousVersionArr[1]) {
             chrome.storage.local.get('update_notify', function (result) {
-                if (!result.update_notify || result.update_notify) {
+                if (result.update_notify === 'undefined' || result.update_notify) {
                     var manifest = chrome.runtime.getManifest();
                     var options = {
                         priority: 0,
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index 19fef59f..590e9971 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ $(document).ready(function () {
 
                 // if notifications are enabled, or wasn't set, check the notifications checkbox
                 chrome.storage.local.get('update_notify', function (result) {
-                    if (!result.update_notify || result.update_notify) {
+                    if (result.update_notify === 'undefined' || result.update_notify) {
                         $('div.notifications input').prop('checked', true);
                     }
                 });