diff --git a/dir_verify.py b/dir_verify.py
index 904c6fe441b0358efc7ac355d9b809dee8112c05..0f0127e50b50ebea248a89df0ad1f9a19eb2c545 100644
--- a/dir_verify.py
+++ b/dir_verify.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def dir_verify(ch, method, properties, body):
                     path.mkdir(mode=0o700)
 
                     # Make sure ownership is correct
-                    shutil.chown(path, msg['uid'], msg['gid'])
+                    shutil.chown(path, int(msg['uid']), int(msg['gid']))
 
                     logger.debug(f'{path} created')