diff --git a/gunicorn/workers/async.py b/gunicorn/workers/async.py
index 11d07acc..8a5cf3a5 100644
--- a/gunicorn/workers/async.py
+++ b/gunicorn/workers/async.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class AsyncWorker(base.Worker):
 
     def handle_request(self, req, sock, addr):
         try:
-            debug = self.cfg.get("debug", False)
+            debug = self.cfg.debug or False
             resp, environ = wsgi.create(req, sock, addr, self.address, debug)
             respiter = self.wsgi(environ, resp.start_response)
             if respiter == ALREADY_HANDLED: