diff --git a/ipsframework/ips.py b/ipsframework/ips.py
index dc197c78..51b79959 100755
--- a/ipsframework/ips.py
+++ b/ipsframework/ips.py
@@ -580,7 +580,7 @@ def initiate_new_simulation(self, sim_name):
         self.call_queue_map[call_id] = msg_list
         self.outstanding_calls_list[call_id] = sim_name, comp, method, arg, time.time()
 
-    def _send_monitor_event(self, sim_name='', eventType='', comment='', ok='True', target=None, operation=None, start_time=None, end_time=None):
+    def _send_monitor_event(self, sim_name='', eventType='', comment='', ok=True, target=None, operation=None, start_time=None, end_time=None):
         """
         Publish a portal monitor event to the *_IPS_MONITOR* event topic.
         Event topics that start with an underscore are reserved for use by the
diff --git a/ipsframework/services.py b/ipsframework/services.py
index ed6022ef..9922ffed 100644
--- a/ipsframework/services.py
+++ b/ipsframework/services.py
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ def _get_service_response(self, msg_id, block=True):
     def _send_monitor_event(self,
                             eventType='',
                             comment='',
-                            ok='True',
+                            ok=True,
                             state='Running',
                             event_time=None,
                             elapsed_time=None,
@@ -1306,7 +1306,7 @@ def stage_input_files(self, input_file_list):
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_INPUTS',
                                      'Files = ' + str(input_file_list) +
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error in stage_input_files')
             raise e
         for (_, old_conf, _, _) in self.sub_flows.values():
@@ -1323,7 +1323,7 @@ def stage_input_files(self, input_file_list):
                     self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_INPUTS',
                                              'Files = ' + str(input_files) +
                                              ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                             ok='False')
+                                             ok=False)
                     self.exception('Error in stage_input_files')
                     raise e
         elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
@@ -1368,7 +1368,7 @@ def stage_subflow_output_files(self, subflow_name='ALL'):
                 self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_SUBFLOW_OUTPUTS',
                                          'Files = ' + str(output_files) +
                                          ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                         ok='False')
+                                         ok=False)
                 self.exception('Error in stage_subflow_output_files() for subflow %s' % sim_name)
                 raise
             else:
@@ -1416,7 +1416,7 @@ def stage_output_files(self, timeStamp, file_list, keep_old_files=True, save_pla
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_OUTPUTS',
                                      'Files = ' + str(file_list) +
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error in stage_output_files()')
             raise
 
@@ -1434,7 +1434,7 @@ def stage_output_files(self, timeStamp, file_list, keep_old_files=True, save_pla
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_OUTPUTS',
                                      'Files = ' + str(file_list) +
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + e.strerror,
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error creating directory %s : %d-%s',
                            plasma_dir, e.errno, e.strerror)
             raise
@@ -1477,7 +1477,7 @@ def stage_output_files(self, timeStamp, file_list, keep_old_files=True, save_pla
                 self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_OUTPUTS',
                                          'Files = ' + str(file_list) +
                                          ' Exception raised : ' + str(why),
-                                         ok='False')
+                                         ok=False)
                 raise
 
         # Store symlinks to component output files in a single top-level directory
@@ -1561,7 +1561,7 @@ def save_restart_files(self, timeStamp, file_list):
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_RESTART',
                                      'Files = ' + str(file_list) +
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error in stage_restart_files()')
             raise
 
@@ -1594,7 +1594,7 @@ def get_restart_files(self, restart_root, timeStamp, file_list):
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_GET_RESTART',
                                      'Files = ' + str(file_list) +
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error in get_restart_files()')
             raise
 
@@ -1625,7 +1625,7 @@ def stage_state(self, state_files=None):
         except Exception as e:
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_STAGE_STATE',
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error staging state files')
             raise
         elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
@@ -1664,7 +1664,7 @@ def update_state(self, state_files=None):
             print('Error updating state files', str(e))
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_UPDATE_STATE',
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error updating state files')
             raise
         elapsed_time = time.time() - start_time
@@ -1707,7 +1707,7 @@ def merge_current_state(self, partial_state_file, logfile=None, merge_binary=Non
             print('Error merging state files', str(e))
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_MERGE_PLASMA_STATE',
                                      ' Exception raised : ' + str(e),
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.exception('Error merging plasma state file ' + partial_state_file)
             raise
         if ret_val == 0:
@@ -1717,7 +1717,7 @@ def merge_current_state(self, partial_state_file, logfile=None, merge_binary=Non
         else:
             self._send_monitor_event('IPS_MERGE_PLASMA_STATE',
                                      ' Error in call to update_state() : ',
-                                     ok='False')
+                                     ok=False)
             self.error('Error merging update %s into current plasma state file %s',
                        partial_state_file, current_plasma_state)
             raise Exception('Error merging update %s into current plasma state file %s' %