diff --git a/src/flags.js b/src/flags.js
index d3735671b2..7825f5603d 100644
--- a/src/flags.js
+++ b/src/flags.js
@@ -156,9 +156,9 @@ Flags.validate = function (payload, callback) {
 			return callback(err);
 		}
 
-		if (data.target.deleted) {
+		if (parseInt(data.target.deleted, 10)) {
 			return callback(new Error('[[error:post-deleted]]'));
-		} else if (data.reporter.banned) {
+		} else if (parseInt(data.reporter.banned, 10)) {
 			return callback(new Error('[[error:user-banned]]'));
 		}