diff --git a/include/user.php b/include/user.php
index 9d94efeea9..7fa48559e3 100644
--- a/include/user.php
+++ b/include/user.php
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ function create_user($arr) {
 		require_once('include/group.php');
 		group_add($newuid, t('Friends'));
 
-		if((! isset($a->config['system']['newuser_public'])) || ($a->config['system']['newuser_public'] === 0)) {
+		if((! isset($a->config['system']['newuser_public'])) || ($a->config['system']['newuser_public'] == 0)) {
 			// Make the group we just created the default for new contacts and for posts
 			$r = q("SELECT id FROM `group` WHERE uid = %d AND name = '%s'",
 				intval($newuid),