diff --git a/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/contrib/web/service.py b/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/contrib/web/service.py
index e2826d410..6806c67e4 100644
--- a/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/contrib/web/service.py
+++ b/scrapy/trunk/scrapy/contrib/web/service.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ urlmapping = (
 
 class UrlToGuidService(WebSite):
     def __init__(self):
-        if not settings['WS_ENABLED']:
+        if not settings.getbool('WS_ENABLED'):
             raise NotConfigured
 
         port = settings.getint('WS_PORT') or 8088