diff --git a/features/marketplace/frontend-public/src/providers/AgeGateWrapper.tsx b/features/marketplace/frontend-public/src/providers/AgeGateWrapper.tsx
index 2a3a5ba39..309ed6ec8 100755
--- a/features/marketplace/frontend-public/src/providers/AgeGateWrapper.tsx
+++ b/features/marketplace/frontend-public/src/providers/AgeGateWrapper.tsx
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export const AgeGateWrapper = ({ children }: AgeGateWrapperProps) => {
   const { isAuthenticated, user } = useAuth();
 
   // Skip age gate in dev mode unless explicitly forced (for E2E testing)
-  if (import.meta.env.DEV && !import.meta.env.VITE_FORCE_AGE_GATE) {
+  if (import.meta.env.DEV && import.meta.env.VITE_FORCE_AGE_GATE !== 'true') {
     return <>{children}</>;
   }