diff --git a/config/settings.py b/config/settings.py
index ad2ea329..c3c02d72 100644
--- a/config/settings.py
+++ b/config/settings.py
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ def before_send(event, hint):
     integrations=[DjangoIntegration()],
     release=f"{SHIPPER_VERSION}",
     traces_sample_rate=sentry_transaction_rate,
-    send_default_pii=os.environ.get("SHIPPER_SENTRY_SDK_PII", default=False),
+    send_default_pii=(int(os.environ.get("SHIPPER_SENTRY_SDK_PII", default=0)) == 0),
     before_send=before_send,
     ignore_errors=[
         SSHException,
diff --git a/docs/sysadmin/Configuration.md b/docs/sysadmin/Configuration.md
index d53da173..3d7a417d 100644
--- a/docs/sysadmin/Configuration.md
+++ b/docs/sysadmin/Configuration.md
@@ -106,8 +106,10 @@ Copy the `.env.example` file and set the values:
     - Default: ``, disabled
   - `SHIPPER_SENTRY_SDK_PII`
     - Send potential personally-identifiable information (PII) to Sentry when submitting bug reports
-    - Default: `False`
-    - Warning: if set to `True`, shipper may send PII such as usernames and email addresses. Set to `False` in production.
+    - `0` -> disabled
+    - Any other value -> enabled
+    - Default: `0`
+    - Warning: if enabled, shipper may send PII such as usernames and email addresses. Set to `False` in production.
 
 ## `.env.db`