diff --git a/pygeoapi/api/__init__.py b/pygeoapi/api/__init__.py
index e54b90e6a..9685053e9 100644
--- a/pygeoapi/api/__init__.py
+++ b/pygeoapi/api/__init__.py
@@ -1322,7 +1322,8 @@ def evaluate_limit(requested: Union[None, int], server_limits: dict,
     else:
         requested2 = get_typed_value(requested)
 
-    if not isinstance(requested2, int):
+    # bool is a subclass of int, but limit=true is not a valid limit
+    if isinstance(requested2, bool) or not isinstance(requested2, int):
         raise ValueError('limit value should be an integer')
 
     if requested2 <= 0:
diff --git a/tests/api/test_api.py b/tests/api/test_api.py
index e0dc1e547..1b07afc86 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_api.py
+++ b/tests/api/test_api.py
@@ -996,6 +996,10 @@ def test_evaluate_limit():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError):
         assert evaluate_limit('-12', server, collection) == 10
 
+    for value in ['true', 'false', True]:
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match='should be an integer'):
+            evaluate_limit(value, server, collection)
+
     assert evaluate_limit('1', server, collection) == 1
 
     collection = {}