diff --git a/python/ionpy/Param.py b/python/ionpy/Param.py
index 84156ced..f98981ad 100644
--- a/python/ionpy/Param.py
+++ b/python/ionpy/Param.py
@@ -10,20 +10,24 @@
 
 class Param:
     def __init__(self,
-        key: Optional[str] = None,
-        val: Any = None,
-        # -- or
-        obj_: Optional[c_ion_param_t] = None,
-    ):
+                 key: Optional[str] = None,
+                 val: Any = None,
+                 # -- or
+                 obj_: Optional[c_ion_param_t] = None,
+                 ):
         if obj_ is None:
             obj_ = c_ion_param_t()
-
-            ret = ion_param_create(ctypes.byref(obj_), key.encode(), str(val).lower().encode())
+            if isinstance(val, bool):
+                if val:
+                    val = "true"
+                else:
+                    val = "false"
+            ret = ion_param_create(ctypes.byref(obj_), key.encode(), str(val).encode())
             if ret != 0:
                 raise Exception('Invalid operation')
 
         self.obj = obj_
 
     def __del__(self):
-        if self.obj: # check not nullptr
+        if self.obj:  # check not nullptr
             ion_param_destroy(self.obj)
diff --git a/python/test/test_param.py b/python/test/test_param.py
index 4d47be9b..8ec1b0de 100644
--- a/python/test/test_param.py
+++ b/python/test/test_param.py
@@ -2,5 +2,10 @@
 
 
 def test_param():
-    p = Param(key='iamkey', val='iamval')
-    print(p)
+
+    p1 = Param(key='iamkey1', val="IAMKEY")  # 'IAMKEY'
+    p2 = Param(key='iamkey2', val="iamkey")  # 'iamkey'
+    p3 = Param(key='iamkey3', val=1)  # '1'
+    p4 = Param(key='iamkey4', val=0.1)  # '0.1'
+    p5 = Param(key='iamkey5', val=True)   # 'true'
+    p6 = Param(key='iamkey6', val=False)  # 'false'