diff --git a/dbos/_dbos_config.py b/dbos/_dbos_config.py
index 9eb66da3..5f267eee 100644
--- a/dbos/_dbos_config.py
+++ b/dbos/_dbos_config.py
@@ -198,4 +198,4 @@ def _app_name_to_db_name(app_name: str) -> str:
 def _set_env_vars(config: ConfigFile) -> None:
     for env, value in config.get("env", {}).items():
         if value is not None:
-            os.environ[env] = value
+            os.environ[env] = str(value)
diff --git a/tests/test_config.py b/tests/test_config.py
index 1bf41f59..e8fe4087 100644
--- a/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/test_config.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ def test_valid_config(mocker):
             foo: ${BARBAR}
             bazbaz: BAZBAZ
             bob: ${BOBBOB}
+            test_number: 123
     """
     os.environ["BARBAR"] = "FOOFOO"
     mocker.patch(
@@ -61,10 +62,12 @@ def test_valid_config(mocker):
     assert configFile["database"]["connectionTimeoutMillis"] == 3000
     assert configFile["env"]["foo"] == "FOOFOO"
     assert configFile["env"]["bob"] is None  # Unset environment variable
+    assert configFile["env"]["test_number"] == 123
 
     _set_env_vars(configFile)
     assert os.environ["bazbaz"] == "BAZBAZ"
     assert os.environ["foo"] == "FOOFOO"
+    assert os.environ["test_number"] == "123"
     assert "bob" not in os.environ