diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
index 8e118da4e8..4d05822e5d 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/XendDomainInfo.py
@@ -555,7 +555,7 @@ class XendDomainInfo:
         if self.memory is None:
             raise VmError('missing memory size')
         cpu = sxp.child_value(config, 'cpu')
-        if self.recreate and self.dom and cpu is not None and cpu >= 0:
+        if self.recreate and self.dom and cpu is not None and int(cpu) >= 0:
             xc.domain_pincpu(self.dom, 0, 1<<int(cpu))
         try:
             image = sxp.child_value(self.config, 'image')