diff --git a/beetsplug/echonest.py b/beetsplug/echonest.py
index a5176489c..270e787b4 100644
--- a/beetsplug/echonest.py
+++ b/beetsplug/echonest.py
@@ -360,7 +360,10 @@ class EchonestMetadataPlugin(plugins.BeetsPlugin):
             if k in ATTRIBUTES:
                 field = ATTRIBUTES[k]
                 log.debug(u'echonest: metadata: {0} = {1}'.format(field, v))
-                item[field] = v
+                if field == 'bpm':
+                    item[field] = int(v)
+                else:
+                    item[field] = v
         if 'id' in values:
             enid = values['id']
             log.debug(u'echonest: metadata: {0} = {1}'.format(ID_KEY, enid))
diff --git a/beetsplug/echonest_tempo.py b/beetsplug/echonest_tempo.py
index 01e5a40f0..11db03de2 100644
--- a/beetsplug/echonest_tempo.py
+++ b/beetsplug/echonest_tempo.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def fetch_item_tempo(lib, loglevel, item, write):
 
     log.log(loglevel, u'fetched tempo: %s - %s' %
                       (item.artist, item.title))
-    item.bpm = tempo
+    item.bpm = int(tempo)
     if write:
         item.write()
     item.store()