diff --git a/novaclient/shell.py b/novaclient/shell.py
index a7615b48c..c4a0c9ec3 100644
--- a/novaclient/shell.py
+++ b/novaclient/shell.py
@@ -145,7 +145,8 @@ class SecretsHelper(object):
     def password(self):
         if self._validate_string(self.args.os_password):
             return self.args.os_password
-        verify_pass = utils.bool_from_str(utils.env("OS_VERIFY_PASSWORD"))
+        verify_pass = strutils.bool_from_string(
+            utils.env("OS_VERIFY_PASSWORD", default=False), True)
         return self._prompt_password(verify_pass)
 
     @property
@@ -242,7 +243,8 @@ class OpenStackComputeShell(object):
             help="Print debugging output")
 
         parser.add_argument('--os-cache',
-            default=utils.bool_from_str(utils.env('OS_CACHE', default=False)),
+            default=strutils.bool_from_string(
+                utils.env('OS_CACHE', default=False), True),
             action='store_true',
             help="Use the auth token cache. Defaults to False if env[OS_CACHE]"
                  " is not set.")
diff --git a/novaclient/utils.py b/novaclient/utils.py
index be64f0290..e7e848173 100644
--- a/novaclient/utils.py
+++ b/novaclient/utils.py
@@ -60,21 +60,6 @@ def add_arg(f, *args, **kwargs):
         f.arguments.insert(0, (args, kwargs))
 
 
-def bool_from_str(val):
-    """Convert a string representation of a bool into a bool value."""
-
-    if not val:
-        return False
-    try:
-        return bool(int(val))
-    except ValueError:
-        if val.lower() in ['true', 'yes', 'y']:
-            return True
-        if val.lower() in ['false', 'no', 'n']:
-            return False
-        raise
-
-
 def add_resource_manager_extra_kwargs_hook(f, hook):
     """Add hook to bind CLI arguments to ResourceManager calls.
 
diff --git a/novaclient/v1_1/flavors.py b/novaclient/v1_1/flavors.py
index dfafdab3e..cfb06d1ed 100644
--- a/novaclient/v1_1/flavors.py
+++ b/novaclient/v1_1/flavors.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ Flavor interface.
 from novaclient import base
 from novaclient import exceptions
 from novaclient.openstack.common.py3kcompat import urlutils
-from novaclient import utils
+from novaclient.openstack.common import strutils
 
 
 class Flavor(base.Resource):
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ class FlavorManager(base.ManagerWithFind):
             raise exceptions.CommandError("rxtx_factor must be a float.")
 
         try:
-            is_public = utils.bool_from_str(is_public)
+            is_public = strutils.bool_from_string(is_public, True)
         except Exception:
             raise exceptions.CommandError("is_public must be a boolean.")
 
diff --git a/novaclient/v1_1/shell.py b/novaclient/v1_1/shell.py
index 05ecfca4e..4a31bb538 100644
--- a/novaclient/v1_1/shell.py
+++ b/novaclient/v1_1/shell.py
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@ def do_flavor_show(cs, args):
 @utils.arg('--is-public',
      metavar='<is-public>',
      help="Make flavor accessible to the public (default true)",
-     type=utils.bool_from_str,
+     type=lambda v: strutils.bool_from_string(v, True),
      default=True)
 def do_flavor_create(cs, args):
     """Create a new flavor"""
@@ -1076,7 +1076,8 @@ def do_image_delete(cs, args):
     nargs='?',
     type=int,
     const=1,
-    default=int(utils.bool_from_str(os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'))),
+    default=int(strutils.bool_from_string(
+        os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'), True)),
     help='Display information from all tenants (Admin only).')
 @utils.arg('--all_tenants',
     nargs='?',
@@ -1617,7 +1618,8 @@ def _translate_availability_zone_keys(collection):
     nargs='?',
     type=int,
     const=1,
-    default=int(utils.bool_from_str(os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'))),
+    default=int(strutils.bool_from_string(
+        os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'), True)),
     help='Display information from all tenants (Admin only).')
 @utils.arg('--all_tenants',
     nargs='?',
@@ -2239,7 +2241,8 @@ def do_secgroup_delete(cs, args):
     nargs='?',
     type=int,
     const=1,
-    default=int(utils.bool_from_str(os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'))),
+    default=int(strutils.bool_from_string(
+        os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'), True)),
     help='Display information from all tenants (Admin only).')
 @utils.arg('--all_tenants',
     nargs='?',
diff --git a/novaclient/v3/shell.py b/novaclient/v3/shell.py
index 21364fba2..0750b45f7 100644
--- a/novaclient/v3/shell.py
+++ b/novaclient/v3/shell.py
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ def do_flavor_show(cs, args):
 @utils.arg('--is-public',
      metavar='<is-public>',
      help="Make flavor accessible to the public (default true)",
-     type=utils.bool_from_str,
+     type=lambda v: strutils.bool_from_string(v, True),
      default=True)
 def do_flavor_create(cs, args):
     """Create a new flavor"""
@@ -935,7 +935,8 @@ def do_image_delete(cs, args):
     nargs='?',
     type=int,
     const=1,
-    default=int(utils.bool_from_str(os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'))),
+    default=int(strutils.bool_from_string(
+        os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'), True)),
     help='Display information from all tenants (Admin only).')
 @utils.arg('--all_tenants',
     nargs='?',
@@ -1441,7 +1442,8 @@ def _translate_availability_zone_keys(collection):
     nargs='?',
     type=int,
     const=1,
-    default=int(utils.bool_from_str(os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'))),
+    default=int(strutils.bool_from_string(
+        os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'), True)),
     help='Display information from all tenants (Admin only).')
 @utils.arg('--all_tenants',
     nargs='?',
@@ -2036,7 +2038,8 @@ def do_secgroup_delete(cs, args):
     nargs='?',
     type=int,
     const=1,
-    default=int(utils.bool_from_str(os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'))),
+    default=int(strutils.bool_from_string(
+        os.environ.get("ALL_TENANTS", 'false'), True)),
     help='Display information from all tenants (Admin only).')
 @utils.arg('--all_tenants',
     nargs='?',