diff --git a/anki/decks.py b/anki/decks.py
index 6fa346266..fd93d930e 100644
--- a/anki/decks.py
+++ b/anki/decks.py
@@ -312,6 +312,8 @@ class DeckManager(object):
 
     def select(self, did):
         "Select a new branch."
+        # make sure arg is an int
+        did = int(did)
         # current deck
         self.col.conf['curDeck'] = did
         # and active decks (current + all children)
diff --git a/anki/sched.py b/anki/sched.py
index d91525d38..20893952b 100644
--- a/anki/sched.py
+++ b/anki/sched.py
@@ -124,6 +124,8 @@ order by due""" % self._deckLimit(),
         pcounts = {}
         # for each of the active decks
         for did in self.col.decks.active():
+            # early alphas were setting the active ids as a str
+            did = int(did)
             # get the individual deck's limit
             lim = limFn(self.col.decks.get(did))
             if not lim: