diff --git a/crates/common/src/dynamic_config.rs b/crates/common/src/dynamic_config.rs
index 22fbebfa..8ce370c1 100644
--- a/crates/common/src/dynamic_config.rs
+++ b/crates/common/src/dynamic_config.rs
@@ -298,6 +298,10 @@ dc_getters_bool! {
     is_initialized,          "setup.initialized",               false;
     rate_limit_fail_closed,  "security.rate_limit_fail_closed", false;
     allow_registration,      "auth.allow_registration",         false;
+    // Stored as a JSON boolean. It used to be read as a string and
+    // compared with "true", which never matched, so the requirement
+    // was never reported.
+    totp_required,           "security.totp_required",          false;
     oidc_enabled,            "oidc.enabled",                    false;
     cb_enabled,              "gateway.cb_enabled",              true;
     // Full-body capture for enterprise audit. Defaults ON: the
@@ -616,7 +620,10 @@ fn validate_setting(key: &str, value: &Value) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         }
 
         // Boolean settings
-        "setup.initialized" | "auth.allow_registration" | "security.rate_limit_fail_closed" => {
+        "setup.initialized"
+        | "auth.allow_registration"
+        | "security.rate_limit_fail_closed"
+        | "security.totp_required" => {
             value
                 .as_bool()
                 .ok_or_else(|| anyhow::anyhow!("{key}: expected a boolean value"))?;
diff --git a/crates/server/src/handlers/admin/settings.rs b/crates/server/src/handlers/admin/settings.rs
index e27afb11..edd9c503 100644
--- a/crates/server/src/handlers/admin/settings.rs
+++ b/crates/server/src/handlers/admin/settings.rs
@@ -486,7 +486,9 @@ fn validate_setting(key: &str, value: &serde_json::Value) -> Result<(), AppError
             }
         }
 
-        "auth.allow_registration" | "security.rate_limit_fail_closed" => {
+        "auth.allow_registration"
+        | "security.rate_limit_fail_closed"
+        | "security.totp_required" => {
             if !value.is_boolean() {
                 return Err(AppError::BadRequest(format!("{key} must be a boolean")));
             }
diff --git a/crates/server/src/handlers/auth.rs b/crates/server/src/handlers/auth.rs
index 119551a7..b1e725cb 100644
--- a/crates/server/src/handlers/auth.rs
+++ b/crates/server/src/handlers/auth.rs
@@ -1824,12 +1824,7 @@ pub async fn totp_status(
     let enabled = repo::totp_enabled(&state.db, auth_user.claims.sub).await?;
 
     // Check if platform requires TOTP
-    let required: bool = state
-        .dynamic_config
-        .get_string("security.totp_required")
-        .await
-        .map(|v| v == "true")
-        .unwrap_or(false);
+    let required = state.dynamic_config.totp_required().await;
 
     Ok(Json(serde_json::json!({
         "enabled": enabled,
diff --git a/crates/test-support/tests/admin_access.rs b/crates/test-support/tests/admin_access.rs
index cdefe90b..7f172d2f 100644
--- a/crates/test-support/tests/admin_access.rs
+++ b/crates/test-support/tests/admin_access.rs
@@ -379,9 +379,7 @@ async fn registration_assigns_the_default_role_and_me_lists_roles_and_teams() {
     let app = TestApp::spawn().await;
     let admin = admin_session(&app).await;
 
-    // The setting has no seeded row; the admin API only changes rows
-    // that exist.
-    app.set_setting("auth.default_role", json!("")).await;
+    // Seeded empty: no role until an admin picks one through the API.
     assert_eq!(app.state.dynamic_config.default_role().await, None);
     // The default role must name a role that exists.
     admin
@@ -720,3 +718,37 @@ async fn sso_provisions_a_user_then_signs_them_in_again() {
     let (_, status) = sso_login(&app, &idp, identity).await;
     assert_eq!(status, 403);
 }
+
+/// `security.totp_required` is a JSON boolean. It used to be read as a
+/// string and compared with "true", which never matched, so a platform
+/// that required TOTP told every user it did not.
+#[ignore = "integration test — run via `make test-it`"]
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn requiring_totp_is_reported_to_users() {
+    let app = TestApp::spawn().await;
+    let admin = admin_session(&app).await;
+
+    let status = get(&admin, "/api/auth/totp/status").await;
+    assert_eq!(status["required"], false, "{status}");
+
+    // A string is refused: it would read as "not required".
+    admin
+        .patch(
+            "/api/admin/settings",
+            json!({"settings": {"security.totp_required": "true"}}),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .assert_status(400);
+    admin
+        .patch(
+            "/api/admin/settings",
+            json!({"settings": {"security.totp_required": true}}),
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap()
+        .assert_ok();
+
+    let status = get(&admin, "/api/auth/totp/status").await;
+    assert_eq!(status["required"], true, "{status}");
+}
diff --git a/db/seeds.sql b/db/seeds.sql
index eb367bf2..f81ea791 100644
--- a/db/seeds.sql
+++ b/db/seeds.sql
@@ -56,7 +56,8 @@ INSERT INTO platform_pricing (id) VALUES (1)
 INSERT INTO system_settings (key, value, category, description) VALUES
 ('auth.jwt_access_ttl_secs',   '900',   'auth', 'JWT access token lifetime in seconds'),
 ('auth.jwt_refresh_ttl_days',  '7',     'auth', 'JWT refresh token lifetime in days'),
-('auth.allow_registration',    'false', 'auth', 'Whether public user self-registration is allowed')
+('auth.allow_registration',    'false', 'auth', 'Whether public user self-registration is allowed'),
+('auth.default_role',          '""',    'auth', 'Role assigned to newly registered and SSO users; empty for none')
 ON CONFLICT (key) DO NOTHING;
 
 -- Gateway