diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/resource/ResourceManager.java b/src/java/com/threerings/resource/ResourceManager.java
index 6dd5d0d4..9dc97ad9 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/resource/ResourceManager.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/resource/ResourceManager.java
@@ -167,8 +167,9 @@ public class ResourceManager
         // check a system property to determine if we should unpack our bundles, but don't freak
         // out if we fail to read it
         try {
-            _unpack = Boolean.getBoolean("no_unpack_resources");
+            _unpack = !Boolean.getBoolean("no_unpack_resources");
         } catch (SecurityException se) {
+            // no problem, we're in a sandbox so we definitely won't be unpacking
         }
 
         // get our resource directory from resource_dir if possible