diff --git a/datasette/default_permissions/config.py b/datasette/default_permissions/config.py
index aab87c1c..8edc976e 100644
--- a/datasette/default_permissions/config.py
+++ b/datasette/default_permissions/config.py
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ class ConfigPermissionProcessor:
         """Evaluate an allow block against the current actor."""
         if allow_block is None:
             return None
+        # Values passed using ``-s permissions.* 1`` or ``0`` are parsed as
+        # integers, but should retain the CLI's boolean 1/0 behavior.
+        if isinstance(allow_block, int) and allow_block in (0, 1):
+            return bool(allow_block)
         return actor_matches_allow(self.actor, allow_block)
 
     def is_in_restriction_allowlist(
diff --git a/tests/test_permissions.py b/tests/test_permissions.py
index a6046b61..cd1050d0 100644
--- a/tests/test_permissions.py
+++ b/tests/test_permissions.py
@@ -457,6 +457,20 @@ async def test_permissions_debug(ds_client, filter_):
     assert checks == expected_checks
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "permissions_debug,expected_status",
+    (
+        (1, 200),
+        (0, 403),
+    ),
+)
+async def test_permissions_debug_numeric_boolean(permissions_debug, expected_status):
+    ds = Datasette(config={"permissions": {"permissions-debug": permissions_debug}})
+    response = await ds.client.get("/-/permissions")
+    assert response.status_code == expected_status
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "actor,allow,expected_fragment",