diff --git a/mod/assign/locallib.php b/mod/assign/locallib.php
index db6ae51b318..c7f8e3c4053 100644
--- a/mod/assign/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/locallib.php
@@ -516,7 +516,7 @@ class assign {
         $update->courseid = $formdata->course;
         $update->intro = $formdata->intro;
         $update->introformat = $formdata->introformat;
-        $update->alwaysshowdescription = $formdata->alwaysshowdescription;
+        $update->alwaysshowdescription = !empty($formdata->alwaysshowdescription);
         $update->submissiondrafts = $formdata->submissiondrafts;
         $update->requiresubmissionstatement = $formdata->requiresubmissionstatement;
         $update->sendnotifications = $formdata->sendnotifications;
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ class assign {
         $update->course = $formdata->course;
         $update->intro = $formdata->intro;
         $update->introformat = $formdata->introformat;
-        $update->alwaysshowdescription = $formdata->alwaysshowdescription;
+        $update->alwaysshowdescription = !empty($formdata->alwaysshowdescription);
         $update->submissiondrafts = $formdata->submissiondrafts;
         $update->requiresubmissionstatement = $formdata->requiresubmissionstatement;
         $update->sendnotifications = $formdata->sendnotifications;