diff --git a/powerline/segments/common.py b/powerline/segments/common.py
index e27d5985..429be576 100644
--- a/powerline/segments/common.py
+++ b/powerline/segments/common.py
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def email_imap_alert(username, password, server='imap.gmail.com', port=993, fold
 		mail = imaplib.IMAP4_SSL(server, port)
 		mail.login(username, password)
 		rc, message = mail.status(folder, "(UNSEEN)")
-		unread_count = re.search("UNSEEN (\d+)", message[0]).group(1)
+		unread_count = int(re.search("UNSEEN (\d+)", message[0]).group(1))
 	except (imaplib.IMAP4.error, AttributeError):
 		return None
 	if not unread_count: