diff --git a/ubersmith_client/ubersmith_api.py b/ubersmith_client/ubersmith_api.py
index 4731bc5..8595b31 100644
--- a/ubersmith_client/ubersmith_api.py
+++ b/ubersmith_client/ubersmith_api.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def __init__(self, url, user, password, timeout, use_http_get):
         self.url = url
         self.user = user
         self.password = password
-        self.timeout = timeout
+        self.timeout = float(timeout)
         self.ubersmith_request = UbersmithRequestGet if use_http_get else UbersmithRequestPost
 
     def __getattr__(self, module):