diff --git a/binarycpython/utils/grid.py b/binarycpython/utils/grid.py
index 785ddf13a07d720f20880d58a7e34e334769983b..3e6b4ab4cc96bbb8f154aa2e0f8771a91d902182 100644
--- a/binarycpython/utils/grid.py
+++ b/binarycpython/utils/grid.py
@@ -4911,7 +4911,7 @@ eccentricity3=0
 
         # use the multiplicity if given
         if "multiplicity" in system_dict:
-            nmult = system_dict["multiplicity"]
+            nmult = int(system_dict["multiplicity"])
         else:
             nmult = 4