diff --git a/savannadashboard/utils/workflow_helpers.py b/savannadashboard/utils/workflow_helpers.py
index a396f35d..955aec61 100644
--- a/savannadashboard/utils/workflow_helpers.py
+++ b/savannadashboard/utils/workflow_helpers.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def parse_configs_from_context(context, defaults):
             config = key_split[2]
             if service not in configs_dict:
                 configs_dict[service] = dict()
-            if defaults[service][config] == val:
+            if unicode(defaults[service][config]) == unicode(val):
                 continue
             configs_dict[service][config] = val
     return configs_dict