diff --git a/conf/stack.ini b/conf/stack.ini
index c9dc591d..939c9244 100644
--- a/conf/stack.ini
+++ b/conf/stack.ini
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ rabbit_host = ${RABBIT_HOST:-$(host:ip)}
 # Sys log enabled or not
 syslog = 0
 
-# Which run type to use [fork, upstart (WIP)]
+# Which run type to use [fork, upstart (WIP), screen (?)]
 run_type = fork
 
 # These flags are used for starting components under upstart 
diff --git a/devstack/component.py b/devstack/component.py
index 3be29bcf..59b63837 100644
--- a/devstack/component.py
+++ b/devstack/component.py
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ class ProgramRuntime(ComponentBase):
 
     def __init__(self, component_name, *args, **kargs):
         ComponentBase.__init__(self, component_name, *args, **kargs)
-        self.run_type = self.cfg.getdefaulted("default", "run_type", settings.RUN_TYPE_DEF)
+        self.run_type = utils.fetch_run_type(self.cfg)
         if self.run_type not in settings.RUN_TYPES_KNOWN:
             msg = "Unknown run type %s found in config default/run_type" % (self.run_type)
             raise excp.ConfigException(msg)
diff --git a/devstack/components/nova.py b/devstack/components/nova.py
index 40ded503..4baf13ed 100644
--- a/devstack/components/nova.py
+++ b/devstack/components/nova.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ class NovaInstaller(comp.PythonInstallComponent):
         self.xvnc_enabled = False
         if not self.component_opts or NXVNC in self.component_opts:
             self.xvnc_enabled = True
-        self.run_type = self.cfg.getdefaulted("default", "run_type", settings.RUN_TYPE_DEF)
+        self.run_type = utils.fetch_run_type(self.cfg)
         self.upstart_on = False
         if self.run_type == settings.RUN_TYPE_UPSTART:
             self.upstart_on = True
diff --git a/devstack/settings.py b/devstack/settings.py
index aec6f274..8c775b72 100644
--- a/devstack/settings.py
+++ b/devstack/settings.py
@@ -91,8 +91,8 @@ COMPONENT_DEPENDENCIES = {
 }
 
 # Different run types supported
-RUN_TYPE_FORK = "fork"
-RUN_TYPE_UPSTART = "upstart"
+RUN_TYPE_FORK = "FORK"
+RUN_TYPE_UPSTART = "UPSTART"
 RUN_TYPE_DEF = RUN_TYPE_FORK
 RUN_TYPES_KNOWN = [RUN_TYPE_UPSTART, RUN_TYPE_FORK, RUN_TYPE_DEF]
 
diff --git a/devstack/utils.py b/devstack/utils.py
index 596fc7fd..e11b1dc4 100644
--- a/devstack/utils.py
+++ b/devstack/utils.py
@@ -158,6 +158,12 @@ def get_host_ip():
     return ip
 
 
+def fetch_run_type(config):
+    run_type = config.getdefaulted("default", "run_type", settings.RUN_TYPE_DEF)
+    run_type = run_type.upper()
+    return run_type
+
+
 def is_interface(intfc):
     if intfc in get_interfaces():
         return True