diff --git a/cfg/generalConfig.cfg b/cfg/generalConfig.cfg
index 407dd0e..5273719 100644
--- a/cfg/generalConfig.cfg
+++ b/cfg/generalConfig.cfg
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ logdir = ./log
 piddir = ./pid
 confdir = ./cfg
 comlog = True
-
+omit_unchanged_within = 60
diff --git a/frappy/params.py b/frappy/params.py
index c649ab9..a414b08 100644
--- a/frappy/params.py
+++ b/frappy/params.py
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ class Parameter(Accessible):
         if modobj:
             if self.update_unchanged == -1:
                 t = modobj.omit_unchanged_within
-                self.omit_unchanged_within = generalConfig.omit_unchanged_within if t is None else t
+                self.omit_unchanged_within = float(generalConfig.omit_unchanged_within) if t is None else t
             else:
                 self.omit_unchanged_within = float(self.update_unchanged)