diff --git a/bfa_client/src/bfa/node.go b/bfa_client/src/bfa/node.go
index 89c37d4765af9b084be8322a625001b24255d085..f04700caceaa2e1889e24d941ec7052363636a40 100644
--- a/bfa_client/src/bfa/node.go
+++ b/bfa_client/src/bfa/node.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 	"math/big"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 )
 
 type Node rpc.Client
@@ -80,9 +81,11 @@ func (node *Node) IsMining() (mining bool) {
 	return
 }
 
-func (node *Node) PeerCount() (peerCount int64) {
+func (node *Node) PeerCount() int64 {
+	var peerCount string
 	node.Call(&peerCount, "net_peerCount")
-	return
+	p, _ := strconv.ParseInt(peerCount, 0, 64)
+	return p
 }
 
 func (node *Node) BalanceAtBlock(account string, blockNumber int64) *big.Int {