diff --git a/awx/api/views.py b/awx/api/views.py
index a4af5c8e15..58ae549989 100644
--- a/awx/api/views.py
+++ b/awx/api/views.py
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ def disallow_superuser_escalation(cls):
         def fx(self, request, *a, **kw):
             if not request.user.is_superuser:
                 is_su = request.DATA.get('is_superuser', False)
-                if su and su != 'false':
+                if su and su not in ('false', 'f', 'False', '0'):
                     raise PermissionDenied('Only superusers may create '
                                            'other superusers.')
             return method(self, request, *a, **kw)