diff --git a/fifa17-recon/tools/utas_server.py b/fifa17-recon/tools/utas_server.py
index 4a8d077..f768ecf 100755
--- a/fifa17-recon/tools/utas_server.py
+++ b/fifa17-recon/tools/utas_server.py
@@ -1477,9 +1477,17 @@ def sweep_items():
 #   FUT_MANAGERS=1        serve on type=manager|staff
 # Every club fetch logs the ?type= it was asked for while any of the three is set, so
 # a null result tells the human WHICH arm to aim at instead of nothing at all.
-CONSUMABLES = os.environ.get("FUT_CONSUMABLES", "")
-COACHES = os.environ.get("FUT_COACHES", "")
-MANAGERS = os.environ.get("FUT_MANAGERS", "")
+def _family_flag(name):
+    """"" / "0" / "off" all mean OFF. Without this, FUT_CONSUMABLES=0 would be a
+    non-empty string and would quietly turn the family ON -- the opposite of what
+    anyone typing it means."""
+    v = os.environ.get(name, "").strip().lower()
+    return "" if v in ("", "0", "off", "no", "false") else v
+
+
+CONSUMABLES = _family_flag("FUT_CONSUMABLES")
+COACHES = _family_flag("FUT_COACHES")
+MANAGERS = _family_flag("FUT_MANAGERS")
 FAMILIES_ON = bool(CONSUMABLES or COACHES or MANAGERS)
 
 MANAGER_TYPES = ("manager", "staff")