diff --git a/stacktach/reconciler/nova.py b/stacktach/reconciler/nova.py
index 59e5955..9e1e965 100644
--- a/stacktach/reconciler/nova.py
+++ b/stacktach/reconciler/nova.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class JSONBridgeClient(object):
         r_instance = empty_reconciler_instance()
         r_instance.update({
             'id': instance['uuid'],
-            'instance_type_id': instance['instance_type_id'],
+            'instance_type_id': str(instance['instance_type_id']),
         })
 
         if instance['launched_at'] is not None:
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_reconciler.py b/tests/unit/test_reconciler.py
index e854a26..9126d4c 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_reconciler.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_reconciler.py
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ class NovaJSONBridgeClientTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         instance = self.client.get_instance('RegionOne', INSTANCE_ID_1)
         self.assertIsNotNone(instance)
         self.assertEqual(instance['id'], INSTANCE_ID_1)
-        self.assertEqual(instance['instance_type_id'], 1)
+        self.assertEqual(instance['instance_type_id'], '1')
         launched_at_dec = stackutils.str_time_to_unix(launched_at)
         self.assertEqual(instance['launched_at'], launched_at_dec)
         terminated_at_dec = stackutils.str_time_to_unix(terminated_at)