diff --git a/nova/tests/unit/virt/test_configdrive.py b/nova/tests/unit/virt/test_configdrive.py
index 98f9efad8ec5..91962d1d7e1c 100644
--- a/nova/tests/unit/virt/test_configdrive.py
+++ b/nova/tests/unit/virt/test_configdrive.py
@@ -12,36 +12,14 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
-from oslo_utils import strutils
-
 from nova import objects
 from nova import test
 from nova.virt import configdrive
 
 
 class ConfigDriveTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
-    def test_valid_string_values(self):
-        instance = objects.Instance(
-            config_drive=None,
-            system_metadata={}
-        )
-
-        for value in (strutils.TRUE_STRINGS + ('always',)):
-            self.flags(force_config_drive=value)
-            self.assertTrue(configdrive.required_by(instance))
-
-    def test_invalid_string_values(self):
-        instance = objects.Instance(
-            config_drive=None,
-            system_metadata={}
-        )
-
-        for value in (strutils.FALSE_STRINGS + ('foo',)):
-            self.flags(force_config_drive=value)
-            self.assertFalse(configdrive.required_by(instance))
-
     def test_instance_force(self):
-        self.flags(force_config_drive="no")
+        self.flags(force_config_drive=False)
 
         instance = objects.Instance(
             config_drive="yes",
@@ -53,7 +31,7 @@ class ConfigDriveTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
         self.assertTrue(configdrive.required_by(instance))
 
     def test_image_meta_force(self):
-        self.flags(force_config_drive="no")
+        self.flags(force_config_drive=False)
 
         instance = objects.Instance(
             config_drive=None,
@@ -64,8 +42,20 @@ class ConfigDriveTestCase(test.NoDBTestCase):
 
         self.assertTrue(configdrive.required_by(instance))
 
-    def test_image_meta_opt(self):
-        self.flags(force_config_drive="no")
+    def test_config_flag_force(self):
+        self.flags(force_config_drive=True)
+
+        instance = objects.Instance(
+            config_drive=None,
+            system_metadata={
+                "image_img_config_drive": "optional",
+            }
+        )
+
+        self.assertTrue(configdrive.required_by(instance))
+
+    def test_no_config_drive(self):
+        self.flags(force_config_drive=False)
 
         instance = objects.Instance(
             config_drive=None,
diff --git a/nova/virt/configdrive.py b/nova/virt/configdrive.py
index e7354212619b..d07bddc64a46 100644
--- a/nova/virt/configdrive.py
+++ b/nova/virt/configdrive.py
@@ -21,11 +21,9 @@ import shutil
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
 from oslo_utils import fileutils
-from oslo_utils import strutils
 from oslo_utils import units
 
 from nova import exception
-from nova.i18n import _LW
 from nova import objects
 from nova.objects import fields
 from nova import utils
@@ -38,13 +36,9 @@ configdrive_opts = [
                default='iso9660',
                choices=('iso9660', 'vfat'),
                help='Config drive format.'),
-    # force_config_drive is a string option, to allow for future behaviors
-    #  (e.g. use config_drive based on image properties)
-    cfg.StrOpt('force_config_drive',
-               choices=('always', 'True', 'False'),
-               help='Set to "always" to force injection to take place on a '
-                    'config drive. NOTE: The "always" will be deprecated in '
-                    'the Liberty release cycle.'),
+    cfg.BoolOpt('force_config_drive',
+                help='Force injection to take place on a config drive',
+                default=False),
     cfg.StrOpt('mkisofs_cmd',
                default='genisoimage',
                help='Name and optionally path of the tool used for '
@@ -62,9 +56,6 @@ class ConfigDriveBuilder(object):
     """Build config drives, optionally as a context manager."""
 
     def __init__(self, instance_md=None):
-        if CONF.force_config_drive == 'always':
-            LOG.warning(_LW('The setting "always" will be deprecated in the '
-                            'Liberty version. Please use "True" instead'))
         self.imagefile = None
         self.mdfiles = []
 
@@ -186,8 +177,7 @@ def required_by(instance):
         fields.ConfigDrivePolicy.OPTIONAL)
 
     return (instance.config_drive or
-            'always' == CONF.force_config_drive or
-            strutils.bool_from_string(CONF.force_config_drive) or
+            CONF.force_config_drive or
             image_prop == fields.ConfigDrivePolicy.MANDATORY
             )