diff --git a/distributed/client.py b/distributed/client.py
index ecf459082d3..fd147b9d9d4 100644
--- a/distributed/client.py
+++ b/distributed/client.py
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ def __init__(
         if security is None and isinstance(address, str):
             security = _maybe_call_security_loader(address)
 
-        if security is None:
+        if security is None or security is False:
             security = Security()
         elif isinstance(security, dict):
             security = Security(**security)
diff --git a/distributed/tests/test_tls_functional.py b/distributed/tests/test_tls_functional.py
index bbddc550e07..1f5e83bc580 100644
--- a/distributed/tests/test_tls_functional.py
+++ b/distributed/tests/test_tls_functional.py
@@ -209,6 +209,16 @@ async def test_security_dict_input_no_security():
                 assert result == 2
 
 
+@gen_test()
+async def test_security_bool_input_disabled_security():
+    async with Scheduler(dashboard_address=":0", security=False) as s:
+        async with Worker(s.address, security=False):
+            async with Client(s.address, security=False, asynchronous=True) as c:
+                result = await c.submit(inc, 1)
+                assert c.security.require_encryption is False
+                assert result == 2
+
+
 @gen_test()
 async def test_security_dict_input():
     conf = tls_config()