diff --git a/anki/deck.py b/anki/deck.py
index be552b4c5..3b4b45396 100644
--- a/anki/deck.py
+++ b/anki/deck.py
@@ -1839,7 +1839,7 @@ alter table decks add column newCount integer not null default 0""")
 alter table decks add column revCardOrder integer not null default 0""")
                     if ver < 18:
                         s.execute("""
-alter table cardModels add column allowEmptyAnswer integer not null default 1""")
+alter table cardModels add column allowEmptyAnswer boolean not null default 1""")
                 except:
                     pass
                 deck = s.query(Deck).get(1)
diff --git a/anki/models.py b/anki/models.py
index dda1096a5..25bb2a9a2 100644
--- a/anki/models.py
+++ b/anki/models.py
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ cardModelsTable = Table(
     Column('editAnswerFontFamily', UnicodeText, default=None),
     Column('editAnswerFontSize', Integer, default=None),
     # empty answer
-    Column('allowEmptyAnswer', Integer, default=True))
+    Column('allowEmptyAnswer', Boolean, default=True))
 
 class CardModel(object):
     """Represents how to generate the front and back of a card."""