diff --git a/rffmpeg.py b/rffmpeg.py
index 8e79d5b..dc4e73c 100755
--- a/rffmpeg.py
+++ b/rffmpeg.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ except Exception as e:
 
 # Handle the fallback configuration using get() to avoid failing
 config["ssh_command"] = o_config["rffmpeg"]["commands"].get("ssh", "ssh")
-config["remote_persist"] = o_config["rffmpeg"]["remote"].get("persist", 0)
+config["remote_persist"] = int(o_config["rffmpeg"]["remote"].get("persist", 0))
 config["fallback_ffmpeg_command"] = o_config["rffmpeg"]["commands"].get("fallback_ffmpeg", config["ffmpeg_command"])
 config["fallback_ffprobe_command"] = o_config["rffmpeg"]["commands"].get("fallback_ffprobe", config["ffprobe_command"])