diff --git a/blockstore/lib/config.py b/blockstore/lib/config.py
index 264e15b23..552a0496e 100644
--- a/blockstore/lib/config.py
+++ b/blockstore/lib/config.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ BLOCKSTORED_CONFIG_FILE = 'blockstore.ini'
 
 try:
     BLOCKSTORED_SERVER = os.environ['BLOCKSTORED_SERVER']
-    BLOCKSTORED_PORT = os.environ['BLOCKSTORED_PORT']
+    BLOCKSTORED_PORT = int(os.environ['BLOCKSTORED_PORT'])
 except KeyError:
     BLOCKSTORED_SERVER = 'localhost'
     BLOCKSTORED_PORT = DEFAULT_BLOCKSTORED_PORT