diff --git a/classes/phing/Phing.php b/classes/phing/Phing.php
index e3e63b9e76..b45ba64ec2 100644
--- a/classes/phing/Phing.php
+++ b/classes/phing/Phing.php
@@ -1621,13 +1621,15 @@ private static function setIncludePaths()
      * Converts shorthand notation values as returned by ini_get()
      * @see http://www.php.net/ini_get
      * @param string $val
-     * @return int|string
+     * @return int
      */
     private static function convertShorthand($val)
     {
         $val = trim($val);
         $last = strtolower($val[strlen($val) - 1]);
 
+        $val = (int) $val;
+
         switch ($last) {
             // The 'G' modifier is available since PHP 5.1.0
             case 'g':