diff --git a/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py b/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py
index c697ce5a..1980b612 100644
--- a/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py
+++ b/networking_generic_switch/devices/netmiko_devices/__init__.py
@@ -123,6 +123,31 @@ def __init__(self, device_cfg, *args, **kwargs):
             self.config['session_log_record_writes'] = True
             self.config['session_log_file_mode'] = 'append'
 
+        _NUMERIC_CAST = {
+            "port": int,
+            "global_delay_factor": float,
+            "conn_timeout": float,
+            "auth_timeout": float,
+            "banner_timeout": float,
+            "blocking_timeout": float,
+            "timeout": float,
+            "session_timeout": float,
+            "read_timeout_override": float,
+            "keepalive": int,
+        }
+
+        for key, expected_type in _NUMERIC_CAST.items():
+            value = self.config.get(key)
+            if isinstance(value, str):
+                try:
+                    self.config[key] = expected_type(value)
+                except ValueError:
+                    LOG.error(
+                        "Invalid value %s for %s; expected %s",
+                        value, key, expected_type.__name__,
+                    )
+                    raise exc.GenericSwitchNetmikoConfigError()
+
         self.lock_kwargs = {
             'locks_pool_size': int(self.ngs_config['ngs_max_connections']),
             'locks_prefix': self.config.get(
diff --git a/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/test_devices.py b/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/test_devices.py
index 482dbd1f..57a912dd 100644
--- a/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/test_devices.py
+++ b/networking_generic_switch/tests/unit/test_devices.py
@@ -219,6 +219,27 @@ def test__get_ssh_disabled_algorithms(self):
         }
         self.assertEqual(expected, algos)
 
+    def test_float_params_cast(self):
+        config = {
+            "device_type": 'netmiko_ovs_linux',
+            "ip": "10.1.2.3",
+            "username": "u",
+            "password": "p",
+            "conn_timeout": "20.0",
+            "global_delay_factor": "2.5",
+            "port": "2222",
+        }
+        device = devices.device_manager(config)
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(device.config["conn_timeout"], float)
+        self.assertEqual(device.config["conn_timeout"], 20.0)
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(device.config["global_delay_factor"], float)
+        self.assertEqual(device.config["global_delay_factor"], 2.5)
+
+        self.assertIsInstance(device.config["port"], int)
+        self.assertEqual(device.config["port"], 2222)
+
     def test_driver_load_config_override(self):
         device_cfg = {"device_type": 'netmiko_ovs_linux',
                       "vlan_translation_supported": True}