diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/MoreLikeThisRequest.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/MoreLikeThisRequest.java
index 13009f0c3da..b6549de9562 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/MoreLikeThisRequest.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/MoreLikeThisRequest.java
@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisRequest implements ActionRequest {
     private int maxDocFreq = -1;
     private int minWordLen = -1;
     private int maxWordLen = -1;
-    private Boolean boostTerms = null;
-    private float boostTermsFactor = -1;
+    private float boostTerms = -1;
 
     private SearchType searchType = SearchType.DEFAULT;
     private String searchQueryHint;
@@ -282,35 +281,20 @@ public class MoreLikeThisRequest implements ActionRequest {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Whether to boost terms in query based on "score" or not. Defaults to <tt>false</tt>.
+     * The boost factor to use when boosting terms. Defaults to <tt>1</tt>.
      */
-    public MoreLikeThisRequest boostTerms(Boolean boostTerms) {
+    public MoreLikeThisRequest boostTerms(float boostTerms) {
         this.boostTerms = boostTerms;
         return this;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Whether to boost terms in query based on "score" or not. Defaults to <tt>false</tt>.
+     * The boost factor to use when boosting terms. Defaults to <tt>1</tt>.
      */
-    public Boolean boostTerms() {
+    public float boostTerms() {
         return this.boostTerms;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * The boost factor to use when boosting terms. Defaults to <tt>1</tt>.
-     */
-    public MoreLikeThisRequest boostTermsFactor(float boostTermsFactor) {
-        this.boostTermsFactor = boostTermsFactor;
-        return this;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * The boost factor to use when boosting terms. Defaults to <tt>1</tt>.
-     */
-    public float boostTermsFactor() {
-        return this.boostTermsFactor;
-    }
-
     /**
      * An optional search source request allowing to control the search request for the
      * more like this documents.
@@ -483,10 +467,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisRequest implements ActionRequest {
         maxDocFreq = in.readVInt();
         minWordLen = in.readVInt();
         maxWordLen = in.readVInt();
-        if (in.readBoolean()) {
-            boostTerms = in.readBoolean();
-        }
-        boostTermsFactor = in.readFloat();
+        boostTerms = in.readFloat();
         searchType = SearchType.fromId(in.readByte());
         if (in.readBoolean()) {
             searchQueryHint = in.readUTF();
@@ -553,13 +534,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisRequest implements ActionRequest {
         out.writeVInt(maxDocFreq);
         out.writeVInt(minWordLen);
         out.writeVInt(maxWordLen);
-        if (boostTerms == null) {
-            out.writeBoolean(false);
-        } else {
-            out.writeBoolean(true);
-            out.writeBoolean(boostTerms);
-        }
-        out.writeFloat(boostTermsFactor);
+        out.writeFloat(boostTerms);
 
         out.writeByte(searchType.id());
         if (searchQueryHint == null) {
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/TransportMoreLikeThisAction.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/TransportMoreLikeThisAction.java
index 6ebd1f50666..905e5b692cb 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/TransportMoreLikeThisAction.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/action/mlt/TransportMoreLikeThisAction.java
@@ -222,7 +222,6 @@ public class TransportMoreLikeThisAction extends BaseAction<MoreLikeThisRequest,
                 .likeText(likeText)
                 .percentTermsToMatch(request.percentTermsToMatch())
                 .boostTerms(request.boostTerms())
-                .boostTermsFactor(request.boostTermsFactor())
                 .minDocFreq(request.minDocFreq())
                 .maxDocFreq(request.maxDocFreq())
                 .minWordLen(request.minWordLen())
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder.java
index 01be76907e5..1c5e233801f 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder.java
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder extends BaseJsonQueryBuilder {
     private int maxDocFreq = -1;
     private int minWordLen = -1;
     private int maxWordLen = -1;
-    private Boolean boostTerms = null;
-    private float boostTermsFactor = -1;
+    private float boostTerms = -1;
     private float boost = -1;
 
     /**
@@ -137,20 +136,11 @@ public class MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder extends BaseJsonQueryBuilder {
         return this;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Sets whether to boost terms in query based on "score" or not. Defaults to
-     * <tt>false</tt>.
-     */
-    public MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder boostTerms(Boolean boostTerms) {
-        this.boostTerms = boostTerms;
-        return this;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Sets the boost factor to use when boosting terms. Defaults to <tt>1</tt>.
      */
-    public MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder boostTermsFactor(float boostTermsFactor) {
-        this.boostTermsFactor = boostTermsFactor;
+    public MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder boostTerms(float boostTerms) {
+        this.boostTerms = boostTerms;
         return this;
     }
 
@@ -194,12 +184,9 @@ public class MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryBuilder extends BaseJsonQueryBuilder {
         if (maxWordLen != -1) {
             builder.field("max_word_len", maxWordLen);
         }
-        if (boostTerms != null) {
+        if (boostTerms != -1) {
             builder.field("boost_terms", boostTerms);
         }
-        if (boostTermsFactor != -1) {
-            builder.field("boost_terms_factor", boostTermsFactor);
-        }
         if (boost != -1) {
             builder.field("boost", boost);
         }
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryParser.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryParser.java
index 6fc669bed47..70a1b955add 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryParser.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryParser.java
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.index.Index;
 import org.elasticsearch.index.mapper.MapperService;
 import org.elasticsearch.index.query.QueryParsingException;
 import org.elasticsearch.index.settings.IndexSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.util.Booleans;
 import org.elasticsearch.util.lucene.search.MoreLikeThisQuery;
 import org.elasticsearch.util.settings.Settings;
 
@@ -87,8 +86,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryParser extends AbstractIndexComponent imp
                 } else if ("max_word_len".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setMaxWordLen(Integer.parseInt(jp.getText()));
                 } else if ("boost_terms".equals(currentFieldName)) {
-                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(Booleans.parseBoolean(jp.getText(), false));
-                } else if ("boost_terms_factor".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(true);
                     mltQuery.setBoostTermsFactor(Float.parseFloat(jp.getText()));
                 } else if ("percent_terms_to_match".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setPercentTermsToMatch(Float.parseFloat(jp.getText()));
@@ -106,9 +104,8 @@ public class MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryParser extends AbstractIndexComponent imp
                     mltQuery.setMinWordLen(jp.getIntValue());
                 } else if ("max_word_len".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setMaxWordLen(jp.getIntValue());
-                } else if ("boost_terms".equals(currentFieldName)) {
-                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(jp.getIntValue() != 0);
-                } else if ("boost_term_factor".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                } else if ("boost_term".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(true);
                     mltQuery.setBoostTermsFactor(jp.getIntValue());
                 } else if ("percent_terms_to_match".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setPercentTermsToMatch(jp.getIntValue());
@@ -116,7 +113,8 @@ public class MoreLikeThisFieldJsonQueryParser extends AbstractIndexComponent imp
                     mltQuery.setBoost(jp.getIntValue());
                 }
             } else if (token == JsonToken.VALUE_NUMBER_FLOAT) {
-                if ("boost_terms_factor".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                if ("boost_terms".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(true);
                     mltQuery.setBoostTermsFactor(jp.getFloatValue());
                 } else if ("percent_terms_to_match".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setPercentTermsToMatch(jp.getFloatValue());
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder.java
index f23ea9ffa3c..19f90b6d1bf 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder.java
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder extends BaseJsonQueryBuilder {
     private int maxDocFreq = -1;
     private int minWordLen = -1;
     private int maxWordLen = -1;
-    private Boolean boostTerms = null;
-    private float boostTermsFactor = -1;
+    private float boostTerms = -1;
     private float boost = -1;
 
     /**
@@ -145,20 +144,11 @@ public class MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder extends BaseJsonQueryBuilder {
         return this;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * Sets whether to boost terms in query based on "score" or not. Defaults to
-     * <tt>false</tt>.
-     */
-    public MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder boostTerms(boolean boostTerms) {
-        this.boostTerms = boostTerms;
-        return this;
-    }
-
     /**
      * Sets the boost factor to use when boosting terms. Defaults to <tt>1</tt>.
      */
-    public MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder boostTermsFactor(float boostTermsFactor) {
-        this.boostTermsFactor = boostTermsFactor;
+    public MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder boostTerms(float boostTerms) {
+        this.boostTerms = boostTerms;
         return this;
     }
 
@@ -208,12 +198,9 @@ public class MoreLikeThisJsonQueryBuilder extends BaseJsonQueryBuilder {
         if (maxWordLen != -1) {
             builder.field("max_word_len", maxWordLen);
         }
-        if (boostTerms != null) {
+        if (boostTerms != -1) {
             builder.field("boost_terms", boostTerms);
         }
-        if (boostTermsFactor != -1) {
-            builder.field("boost_terms_factor", boostTermsFactor);
-        }
         if (boost != -1) {
             builder.field("boost", boost);
         }
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryParser.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryParser.java
index 33e473e583a..c1b0d89c536 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryParser.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/query/json/MoreLikeThisJsonQueryParser.java
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ import org.elasticsearch.index.Index;
 import org.elasticsearch.index.mapper.AllFieldMapper;
 import org.elasticsearch.index.query.QueryParsingException;
 import org.elasticsearch.index.settings.IndexSettings;
-import org.elasticsearch.util.Booleans;
 import org.elasticsearch.util.lucene.search.MoreLikeThisQuery;
 import org.elasticsearch.util.settings.Settings;
 
@@ -81,8 +80,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisJsonQueryParser extends AbstractIndexComponent implemen
                 } else if ("max_word_len".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setMaxWordLen(Integer.parseInt(jp.getText()));
                 } else if ("boost_terms".equals(currentFieldName)) {
-                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(Booleans.parseBoolean(jp.getText(), false));
-                } else if ("boost_terms_factor".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(true);
                     mltQuery.setBoostTermsFactor(Float.parseFloat(jp.getText()));
                 } else if ("percent_terms_to_match".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setPercentTermsToMatch(Float.parseFloat(jp.getText()));
@@ -101,8 +99,7 @@ public class MoreLikeThisJsonQueryParser extends AbstractIndexComponent implemen
                 } else if ("max_word_len".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setMaxWordLen(jp.getIntValue());
                 } else if ("boost_terms".equals(currentFieldName)) {
-                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(jp.getIntValue() != 0);
-                } else if ("boost_terms_factor".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(true);
                     mltQuery.setBoostTermsFactor(jp.getIntValue());
                 } else if ("percent_terms_to_match".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setPercentTermsToMatch(jp.getIntValue());
@@ -110,7 +107,8 @@ public class MoreLikeThisJsonQueryParser extends AbstractIndexComponent implemen
                     mltQuery.setBoost(jp.getIntValue());
                 }
             } else if (token == JsonToken.VALUE_NUMBER_FLOAT) {
-                if ("boost_terms_factor".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                if ("boost_terms".equals(currentFieldName)) {
+                    mltQuery.setBoostTerms(true);
                     mltQuery.setBoostTermsFactor(jp.getFloatValue());
                 } else if ("percent_terms_to_match".equals(currentFieldName)) {
                     mltQuery.setPercentTermsToMatch(jp.getFloatValue());
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/mlt/RestMoreLikeThisAction.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/mlt/RestMoreLikeThisAction.java
index da4e9cc367c..e018a418bfa 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/mlt/RestMoreLikeThisAction.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/rest/action/mlt/RestMoreLikeThisAction.java
@@ -61,8 +61,7 @@ public class RestMoreLikeThisAction extends BaseRestHandler {
             mltRequest.maxDocFreq(request.paramAsInt("max_doc_freq", -1));
             mltRequest.minWordLen(request.paramAsInt("min_word_len", -1));
             mltRequest.maxWordLen(request.paramAsInt("max_word_len", -1));
-            mltRequest.boostTerms(request.paramAsBoolean("boost_terms", null));
-            mltRequest.boostTermsFactor(request.paramAsFloat("boost_terms_factor", -1));
+            mltRequest.boostTerms(request.paramAsFloat("boost_terms", -1));
 
             mltRequest.searchType(parseSearchType(request.param("search_type")));
             mltRequest.searchIndices(request.paramAsStringArray("search_indices", null));