diff --git a/common/python/nomadcore/parser_backend.py b/common/python/nomadcore/parser_backend.py
index a288197a7c795dab4c6fcaa5ac59a831a833af0a..9616be14727716918de8cd5f343b053bec1e02c1 100644
--- a/common/python/nomadcore/parser_backend.py
+++ b/common/python/nomadcore/parser_backend.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from builtins import range
 from builtins import object
 import json
 import numpy as np
-import sys
+import sys, re
 
 def numpyDtypeForDtypeStr(dtypeStr):
     """returns the numpy dtype given the meta info dtype"""
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def valueForStrValue(strValue, dtypeStr):
         elif dtypeStr[0] == "i":
             return int(strValue)
         elif dtypeStr[0] == "b":
-            return (re.match("\s*(?:no?|\.?f(?:alse)?\.?|0)\s*$", strValue) is None)
+            return (re.match("\s*(?:[nN][oO]?|\.?[fF](?:[aA][lL][sS][eE])?\.?|0)\s*$", strValue) is None)
         elif dtypeStr[0] == "B":
             return strValue # assumed to be base64 encoded
         elif dtypeStr[0] == "C":