diff --git a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_deadline.py b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_deadline.py
index 5021c0796b..e232571122 100644
--- a/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_deadline.py
+++ b/openpype/modules/deadline/plugins/publish/submit_maya_deadline.py
@@ -36,6 +36,17 @@ from openpype_modules.deadline import abstract_submit_deadline
 from openpype_modules.deadline.abstract_submit_deadline import DeadlineJobInfo
 
 
+def _validate_deadline_bool_value(instance, attribute, value):
+    if not isinstance(value, (str, bool)):
+        raise TypeError(
+            "Attribute {} must be str or bool.".format(attribute))
+    if value not in {"1", "0", True, False}:
+        raise ValueError(
+            ("Value of {} must be one of "
+             "'0', '1', True, False").format(attribute)
+        )
+
+
 @attr.s
 class MayaPluginInfo:
     SceneFile = attr.ib(default=None)   # Input
@@ -46,7 +57,8 @@ class MayaPluginInfo:
     RenderLayer = attr.ib(default=None)  # Render only this layer
     Renderer = attr.ib(default=None)
     ProjectPath = attr.ib(default=None)  # Resolve relative references
-    RenderSetupIncludeLights = attr.ib(default=None)  # Include all lights flag
+    RenderSetupIncludeLights = attr.ib(
+        default="1", validator=_validate_deadline_bool_value)  # Include all lights flag
 
 
 @attr.s
@@ -185,14 +197,17 @@ class MayaSubmitDeadline(abstract_submit_deadline.AbstractSubmitDeadline):
         instance = self._instance
         context = instance.context
 
+        # Set it to default Maya behaviour if it cannot be determined
+        # from instance (but it should be, by the Collector). Also
+        rs_include_lights = instance.data.get("renderSetupIncludeLights", "1")
+        if rs_include_lights not in {"1", "0", True, False}:
+            rs_include_lights = "1"
         plugin_info = MayaPluginInfo(
             SceneFile=self.scene_path,
             Version=cmds.about(version=True),
             RenderLayer=instance.data['setMembers'],
             Renderer=instance.data["renderer"],
-            # Set it to default Maya behaviour if it cannot be determined
-            # from instance (but it should be, by the Collector).
-            RenderSetupIncludeLights=instance.data.get("renderSetupIncludeLights", 1),  # noqa
+            RenderSetupIncludeLights=rs_include_lights,  # noqa
             ProjectPath=context.data["workspaceDir"],
             UsingRenderLayers=True,
         )