diff --git a/nova/api/openstack/compute/services.py b/nova/api/openstack/compute/services.py
index c4b67cfacd5d..435da2a2c981 100644
--- a/nova/api/openstack/compute/services.py
+++ b/nova/api/openstack/compute/services.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
+from oslo_utils import strutils
 import webob.exc
 
 from nova.api.openstack import api_version_request
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ class ServiceController(wsgi.Controller):
     def _forced_down(self, body, context):
         """Set or unset forced_down flag for the service"""
         try:
-            forced_down = body["forced_down"]
+            forced_down = strutils.bool_from_string(body["forced_down"])
         except KeyError:
             msg = _('Missing forced_down field')
             raise webob.exc.HTTPBadRequest(explanation=msg)
diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_services.py b/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_services.py
index 41ea739f1c25..38f4ba7f2449 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_services.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/api/openstack/compute/test_services.py
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ class FakeRequest(object):
         super(FakeRequest, self).__init__()
         self.api_version_request = api_version.APIVersionRequest(version)
 
+    def is_legacy_v2(self):
+        return False
+
 
 class FakeRequestWithService(FakeRequest):
     GET = {"binary": "nova-compute"}
@@ -886,6 +889,43 @@ class ServicesTestV211(ServicesTestV21):
         self._process_output(response, has_id=True)
         self.assertEqual(res_dict, response)
 
+    def test_force_down_service(self):
+        req = FakeRequest(self.wsgi_api_version)
+        req_body = {"forced_down": True,
+                    "host": "host1", "binary": "nova-compute"}
+        res_dict = self.controller.update(req, 'force-down', body=req_body)
+
+        response = {
+            "service": {
+                "forced_down": True,
+                "host": "host1",
+                "binary": "nova-compute"
+            }
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(response, res_dict)
+
+    def test_force_down_service_with_string_forced_down(self):
+        req = FakeRequest(self.wsgi_api_version)
+        req_body = {"forced_down": "True",
+                    "host": "host1", "binary": "nova-compute"}
+        res_dict = self.controller.update(req, 'force-down', body=req_body)
+
+        response = {
+            "service": {
+                "forced_down": True,
+                "host": "host1",
+                "binary": "nova-compute"
+            }
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(response, res_dict)
+
+    def test_force_down_service_with_invalid_parameter(self):
+        req = FakeRequest(self.wsgi_api_version)
+        req_body = {"forced_down": "Invalid",
+                    "host": "host1", "binary": "nova-compute"}
+        self.assertRaises(exception.ValidationError,
+            self.controller.update, req, 'force-down', body=req_body)
+
 
 class ServicesCellsTestV21(test.TestCase):