diff --git a/dal/settings.py b/dal/settings.py
index 7c30a2a..ee96962 100644
--- a/dal/settings.py
+++ b/dal/settings.py
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ search_base = os.environ['LDAPSEARCH'].split()
 search_base_ldap = [ LDAPSearch(x, ldap.SCOPE_SUBTREE, "(uid=%(user)s)") for x in search_base ]
 AUTH_LDAP_USER_SEARCH = LDAPSearchUnion(*search_base_ldap)
 
-if os.environ['LDAP_USE_TLS']:
-    AUTH_LDAP_START_TLS=True
+AUTH_LDAP_START_TLS = os.environ.get('LDAP_USE_TLS', False)
 
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))