diff --git a/py/selenium/webdriver/support/wait.py b/py/selenium/webdriver/support/wait.py
index efcc8ea3c2ad1..7634374086e52 100644
--- a/py/selenium/webdriver/support/wait.py
+++ b/py/selenium/webdriver/support/wait.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ def __init__(self, driver, timeout, poll_frequency=POLL_FREQUENCY, ignored_excep
                         until_not(lambda x: x.find_element_by_id("someId").is_displayed())
         """
         self._driver = driver
-        self._timeout = timeout
+        self._timeout = float(timeout)
         self._poll = poll_frequency
         # avoid the divide by zero
         if self._poll == 0: