diff --git a/check_mumble.py b/check_mumble.py
index b96c334..316c366 100755
--- a/check_mumble.py
+++ b/check_mumble.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ def main(args):
 
 	# load default values if not passed as arguments
 	if args.timeout:
-		timeout = args.timeout
+		timeout = float(args.timeout)
 	else:
 		timeout = 10