diff --git a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/custom.py b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/custom.py
index f50aba90bca..5e5d4336899 100644
--- a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/custom.py
+++ b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/custom.py
@@ -3418,7 +3418,7 @@ def aks_disable_addons(cmd, client, resource_group_name, name, addons, no_wait=F
         if addons == "monitoring" and CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME in instance.addon_profiles and \
                 instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].enabled and \
                 CONST_MONITORING_USING_AAD_MSI_AUTH in instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].config and \
-                instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].config[CONST_MONITORING_USING_AAD_MSI_AUTH]:
+                str(instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].config[CONST_MONITORING_USING_AAD_MSI_AUTH]).lower() == 'true':
             # remove the DCR association because otherwise the DCR can't be deleted
             _ensure_container_insights_for_monitoring(
                 cmd,
@@ -3465,7 +3465,7 @@ def aks_enable_addons(cmd, client, resource_group_name, name, addons, workspace_
 
     if CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME in instance.addon_profiles and instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].enabled:
         if CONST_MONITORING_USING_AAD_MSI_AUTH in instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].config and \
-                instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].config[CONST_MONITORING_USING_AAD_MSI_AUTH]:
+                str(instance.addon_profiles[CONST_MONITORING_ADDON_NAME].config[CONST_MONITORING_USING_AAD_MSI_AUTH]).lower() == 'true':
             if not msi_auth:
                 raise ArgumentUsageError("--enable-msi-auth-for-monitoring can not be used on clusters with service principal auth.")
             else:
diff --git a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_aks_commands.py b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_aks_commands.py
index c54257888b2..876ba3418c3 100644
--- a/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_aks_commands.py
+++ b/src/aks-preview/azext_aks_preview/tests/latest/test_aks_commands.py
@@ -1306,11 +1306,33 @@ def test_aks_create_with_monitoring_legacy_auth(self, resource_group, resource_g
                      '--generate-ssh-keys --enable-managed-identity ' \
                      '--enable-addons monitoring ' \
                      '--node-count 1 '
-        self.cmd(create_cmd, checks=[
+        response = self.cmd(create_cmd, checks=[
             self.check('addonProfiles.omsagent.enabled', True),
             self.exists('addonProfiles.omsagent.config.logAnalyticsWorkspaceResourceID'),
             self.check('addonProfiles.omsagent.config.useAADAuth', 'False')
-        ])
+        ]).get_output_in_json()
+
+        # make sure a DCR was not created
+
+        cluster_resource_id = response["id"]
+        subscription = cluster_resource_id.split("/")[2]
+        workspace_resource_id = response["addonProfiles"]["omsagent"]["config"]["logAnalyticsWorkspaceResourceID"]
+        workspace_name = workspace_resource_id.split("/")[-1]
+        workspace_resource_group = workspace_resource_id.split("/")[4]
+
+        try:
+            # check that the DCR was created
+            dataCollectionRuleName = f"DCR-{workspace_name}"
+            dcr_resource_id = f"/subscriptions/{subscription}/resourceGroups/{workspace_resource_group}/providers/Microsoft.Insights/dataCollectionRules/{dataCollectionRuleName}"
+            get_cmd = f'rest --method get --url https://management.azure.com{dcr_resource_id}?api-version=2019-11-01-preview'
+            self.cmd(get_cmd, checks=[
+                self.check('properties.destinations.logAnalytics[0].workspaceResourceId', f'{workspace_resource_id}')
+            ])
+
+            assert False
+        except Exception as err:
+            pass  # this is expected
+
 
         # make sure monitoring can be smoothly disabled
         self.cmd(f'aks disable-addons -a monitoring -g={resource_group} -n={aks_name}')
diff --git a/src/aks-preview/setup.py b/src/aks-preview/setup.py
index 7c41e65e76f..fa4e30ceeb1 100644
--- a/src/aks-preview/setup.py
+++ b/src/aks-preview/setup.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from codecs import open as open1
 from setuptools import setup, find_packages
 
-VERSION = "0.5.20"
+VERSION = "0.5.21"
 CLASSIFIERS = [
     'Development Status :: 4 - Beta',
     'Intended Audience :: Developers',