diff --git a/lib/main.js b/lib/main.js
index 72f5211c..7f44d659 100644
--- a/lib/main.js
+++ b/lib/main.js
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Lambda.prototype._params = function (program, buffer) {
     Description: program.description,
     MemorySize: program.memorySize,
     Timeout: program.timeout,
-    Publish: program.publish,
+    Publish: program.publish == 'true',
     VpcConfig: {}
   };
   if (program.lambdaVersion) {
diff --git a/test/main.js b/test/main.js
index 0be10b46..8cd49dc9 100644
--- a/test/main.js
+++ b/test/main.js
@@ -73,6 +73,13 @@ describe('node-lambda', function () {
       var params = lambda._params(program);
       assert.equal(Object.keys(params.VpcConfig).length, 0);
     });
+
+    it('Sets Publish as a boolean when param is set', function() {
+      program.publish = 'true';
+      var params = lambda._params(program);
+      assert.isBoolean(params.Publish);
+      assert.isTrue(params.Publish);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('_zipfileTmpPath', function () {