diff --git a/aipy_src/_miriad/miriad_wrap.h b/aipy_src/_miriad/miriad_wrap.h
index 62b08628..bd2fc1d8 100644
--- a/aipy_src/_miriad/miriad_wrap.h
+++ b/aipy_src/_miriad/miriad_wrap.h
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@
         PyErr_Format(PyExc_ValueError, "expected a string"); \
         return NULL; }
 #define CHK_INT(o) \
-    if (!PyInt_Check(o)) { \
+    if (!PyInt_Check(o) && !PyIndex_Check(o)) { \
         PyErr_Format(PyExc_ValueError, "expected an int"); \
         return NULL; }
 #define CHK_LONG(o) \
-    if (!PyLong_Check(o)) { \
+    if (!PyLong_Check(o) && !PyIndex_Check(o)) { \
         PyErr_Format(PyExc_ValueError, "expected a long"); \
         return NULL; }
 #define CHK_FLOAT(o) \