diff --git a/registry-service/src/main/java/org/gbif/registry/service/collections/suggestions/CollectionChangeSuggestionService.java b/registry-service/src/main/java/org/gbif/registry/service/collections/suggestions/CollectionChangeSuggestionService.java
index 31e62ec0e..77ec0908a 100644
--- a/registry-service/src/main/java/org/gbif/registry/service/collections/suggestions/CollectionChangeSuggestionService.java
+++ b/registry-service/src/main/java/org/gbif/registry/service/collections/suggestions/CollectionChangeSuggestionService.java
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public int createChangeSuggestion(CollectionChangeSuggestion changeSuggestion) {
   public  UUID applyChangeSuggestion(int suggestionKey){
     ChangeSuggestionDto dto = changeSuggestionMapper.get(suggestionKey);
     if (dto.getType() == Type.CREATE) {
-      if (dto.getCreateInstitution()) {
+      if (Boolean.TRUE.equals(dto.getCreateInstitution())) {
         UUID createdInstitution = createInstitutionForCollectionSuggestion(dto);
         Collection suggestedCollection = readJson(dto.getSuggestedEntity(), Collection.class);
         suggestedCollection.setInstitutionKey(createdInstitution);