diff --git a/cmd/helm/install.go b/cmd/helm/install.go
index 706cb5906..169e8a805 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/install.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/install.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 
 	"text/template"
@@ -289,12 +290,32 @@ func (v *values) Set(data string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func typedVal(val string) interface{} {
+	if strings.EqualFold(val, "true") {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if strings.EqualFold(val, "false") {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	if iv, err := strconv.ParseInt(val, 10, 64); err == nil {
+		return iv
+	}
+
+	if fv, err := strconv.ParseFloat(val, 64); err == nil {
+		return fv
+	}
+
+	return val
+}
+
 func splitPair(item string) (name string, value interface{}) {
 	pair := strings.SplitN(item, "=", 2)
 	if len(pair) == 1 {
 		return pair[0], true
 	}
-	return pair[0], pair[1]
+	return pair[0], typedVal(pair[1])
 }
 
 // locateChartPath looks for a chart directory in known places, and returns either the full path or an error.
diff --git a/cmd/helm/install_test.go b/cmd/helm/install_test.go
index 48d7854cd..76da76ea8 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/install_test.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/install_test.go
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func TestInstall(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestValues(t *testing.T) {
-	args := "sailor=sinbad,good,port.source=baghdad,port.destination=basrah"
+	args := "sailor=sinbad,good,port.source=baghdad,port.destination=basrah,success=True"
 	vobj := new(values)
 	vobj.Set(args)
 
@@ -113,6 +113,10 @@ func TestValues(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Expected good to be true. Got %v", vals["good"])
 	}
 
+	if !vals["success"].(bool) {
+		t.Errorf("Expected boolean true. Got %T, %v", vals["success"], vals["success"])
+	}
+
 	port := vals["port"].(map[string]interface{})
 
 	if fmt.Sprint(port["source"]) != "baghdad" {
@@ -127,6 +131,7 @@ port:
   destination: basrah
   source: baghdad
 sailor: sinbad
+success: true
 `
 	out, err := vobj.yaml()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -147,6 +152,7 @@ port:
   destination: basrah
   source: baghdad
 sailor: pisti
+success: true
 `
 	newOut, err := vobj.yaml()
 	if err != nil {