diff --git a/code/controllers/configuration.dm b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
index 39f9a770a49..30db610e3c2 100644
--- a/code/controllers/configuration.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/configuration.dm
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@
 					config.cult_ghostwriter = 1
 
 				if("req_cult_ghostwriter")
-					config.cult_ghostwriter_req_cultists = value
+					config.cult_ghostwriter_req_cultists = text2num(value)
 
 				else
 					log_misc("Unknown setting in configuration: '[name]'")