diff --git a/app/models/user.rb b/app/models/user.rb
index 0edd01a97a..287774f32d 100644
--- a/app/models/user.rb
+++ b/app/models/user.rb
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ class User < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def treat_as_new_topic_start_date
-    duration = new_topic_duration_minutes || SiteSetting.default_other_new_topic_duration_minutes
+    duration = new_topic_duration_minutes || SiteSetting.default_other_new_topic_duration_minutes.to_i
     [case duration
       when User::NewTopicDuration::ALWAYS
         created_at