diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 58d7a88..48f3711 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 VITE_API_BASE_URL=
 VITE_MATOMO_URL=
 VITE_MATOMO_SITE_ID=
-VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE=  # nothing = false, anything else = true
+VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE="false"  # use "true" or "false"
 VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE_MESSAGE="ChessScribe is currently undergoing maintenance. Some features may be unavailable."
 
 DISCORD_CONTACT_WEBHOOK=
diff --git a/src/components/Header.tsx b/src/components/Header.tsx
index 590efae..8186b19 100644
--- a/src/components/Header.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Header.tsx
@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 import { Link } from "@tanstack/react-router";
 import { Image } from "@unpic/react";
-import { z } from "zod";
 import MaintenanceModeBanner from "#/components/MaintenanceModeBanner.tsx";
 import { env } from "#/env.ts";
 import logo from "@/assets/images/logo.svg?url";
 
+const DEFAULT_MAINTENANCE_MESSAGE = "Maintenance Mode";
+
 export default function Header() {
-	const maintenanceModeMessage = env.VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE
-		? z
-				.string()
-				.transform((value) => (value.trim() === "" ? null : value))
-				.parse(env.VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE_MESSAGE)
-		: null;
+	const maintenanceModeMessage =
+		env.VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE ?
+			env.VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE_MESSAGE?.trim() || DEFAULT_MAINTENANCE_MESSAGE
+		:	null;
 
 	return (
 		<header>
diff --git a/src/env.ts b/src/env.ts
index f6e2a92..abe7488 100644
--- a/src/env.ts
+++ b/src/env.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@ const clientSchema = z.object({
 	VITE_API_BASE_URL: z.url("Invalid API Base URL format"),
 	VITE_MATOMO_URL: z.url("Invalid URL format"),
 	VITE_MATOMO_SITE_ID: z.string("Invalid Site ID"),
-	VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE: z.string("Invalid Maintenance Mode"),
+	VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE: z
+		.enum(["true", "false"], 'Invalid Maintenance Mode (must be "true" or "false")')
+		.transform((v) => v === "true"),
 	VITE_MAINTENANCE_MODE_MESSAGE: z.string().optional(),
 });