diff --git a/lib/sumfiles.py b/lib/sumfiles.py
index aed9713..d220adc 100644
--- a/lib/sumfiles.py
+++ b/lib/sumfiles.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class DejaResults(object):
                 f.write (sum_dict[0][k] + ': ' + k + '\n')
         os.umask (old_umask)
 
-    def write_sum_file(self, sum_dict, builder, branch, rev, istry, try_count = 0):
+    def write_sum_file(self, sum_dict, builder, branch, rev, istry, try_count = "0"):
         if istry:
             self.write_try_build_sum_file (self, sum_dict, builder, branch, rev,
                                            try_count = try_count)