diff --git a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-yocto.bbclass b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-yocto.bbclass
index a5d89dc2c8bc912539f7c9ffc25a2576920f580a..1493ba20a0c25df556df41fa4137ab17f67c91e7 100644
--- a/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-yocto.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes-recipe/kernel-yocto.bbclass
@@ -568,7 +568,9 @@ python do_config_analysis() {
 python do_kernel_configcheck() {
     import re, string, sys, subprocess
 
-    audit_flag = d.getVar( "KMETA_AUDIT" )
+    audit_flag = False
+    if d.getVar("KMETA_AUDIT"):
+        audit_flag = oe.types.boolean(d.getVar("KMETA_AUDIT"))
     if not audit_flag:
        bb.note( "kernel config audit disabled, skipping .." )
        return