diff --git a/homeassistant/components/amcrest/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/amcrest/__init__.py
index f6ddc210415..8d274f12044 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/amcrest/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/amcrest/__init__.py
@@ -201,11 +201,15 @@ def _monitor_events(hass, name, api, event_codes):
     while True:
         api.available_flag.wait()
         try:
-            for code, start in api.event_actions("All", retries=5):
-                event_data = {"camera": name, "event": code, "payload": start}
+            for code, payload in api.event_actions("All", retries=5):
+                event_data = {"camera": name, "event": code, "payload": payload}
                 hass.bus.fire("amcrest", event_data)
                 if code in event_codes:
                     signal = service_signal(SERVICE_EVENT, name, code)
+                    start = any(
+                        str(key).lower() == "action" and str(val).lower() == "start"
+                        for key, val in payload.items()
+                    )
                     _LOGGER.debug("Sending signal: '%s': %s", signal, start)
                     dispatcher_send(hass, signal, start)
         except AmcrestError as error: