diff --git a/chaos_monkey/exploit/elasticgroovy.py b/chaos_monkey/exploit/elasticgroovy.py
index ed110e999..5dce8208e 100644
--- a/chaos_monkey/exploit/elasticgroovy.py
+++ b/chaos_monkey/exploit/elasticgroovy.py
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ class ElasticGroovyExploiter(HostExploiter):
             LOG.info("Host: %s doesn't have ES open" % host.ip_addr)
             return False
         major, minor, build = host.services[ES_SERVICE]['version'].split('.')
+        major = int(major)
+        minor = int(minor)
+        build = int(build)
         if major > 1:
             return False
         if major == 1 and minor > 4: