diff --git a/lib/backend/abstractbackend.php b/lib/backend/abstractbackend.php
index 609b5db1..1dc186b9 100644
--- a/lib/backend/abstractbackend.php
+++ b/lib/backend/abstractbackend.php
@@ -248,6 +248,18 @@ abstract class AbstractBackend {
 	public function lastModifiedAddressBook($addressbookid) {
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * @brief 'touch' an address book.
+	 *
+	 * If implemented this method must mark the address books
+	 * modification date so lastModifiedAddressBook() can be
+	 * used to invalidate the cache.
+	 *
+	 * @param string $addressbookid
+	 */
+	public function setModifiedAddressBook($addressbookid) {
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns all contacts for a specific addressbook id.
 	 *
@@ -375,7 +387,7 @@ abstract class AbstractBackend {
 		$key = $this->combinedKey($addressBookId);
 		$key = 'active_' . $key;
 
-		return (\OCP\Config::getUserValue($this->userid, 'contacts', $key, 'true') === 'true');
+		return !!(\OCP\Config::getUserValue($this->userid, 'contacts', $key, 1));
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -388,7 +400,8 @@ abstract class AbstractBackend {
 		$key = $this->combinedKey($addressBookId);
 		$key = 'active_' . $key;
 
-		return \OCP\Config::setUserValue($this->userid, 'contacts', $key, $active);
+		$this->setModifiedAddressBook($addressBookId);
+		return \OCP\Config::setUserValue($this->userid, 'contacts', $key, (int)$active);
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/lib/backend/database.php b/lib/backend/database.php
index e9d029f4..7ad7f892 100644
--- a/lib/backend/database.php
+++ b/lib/backend/database.php
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ class Database extends AbstractBackend {
 	 * @param integer $id
 	 * @return boolean
 	 */
-	public function touchAddressBook($id) {
+	public function setModifiedAddressBook($id) {
 		$query = 'UPDATE `' . $this->addressBooksTableName
 			. '` SET `ctag` = ? + 1 WHERE `id` = ?';
 		if(!isset(self::$preparedQueries['touchaddressbook'])) {
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ class Database extends AbstractBackend {
 		}
 		$newid = \OCP\DB::insertid($this->cardsTableName);
 
-		$this->touchAddressBook($addressbookid);
+		$this->setModifiedAddressBook($addressbookid);
 		\OCP\Util::emitHook('OCA\Contacts', 'post_createContact',
 			array('id' => $newid, 'parent' => $addressbookid, 'backend' => $this->name, 'contact' => $contact)
 		);
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ class Database extends AbstractBackend {
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		$this->touchAddressBook($addressbookid);
+		$this->setModifiedAddressBook($addressbookid);
 		if(!$isBatch) {
 			\OCP\Util::emitHook('OCA\Contacts', 'post_updateContact',
 				array(
@@ -714,7 +714,7 @@ class Database extends AbstractBackend {
 				. $id, \OCP\Util::DEBUG);
 			return false;
 		}
-		$this->touchAddressBook($addressbookid);
+		$this->setModifiedAddressBook($addressbookid);
 		return true;
 	}