diff --git a/dynamicweb/settings/base.py b/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
index 32070ea8..70d3ec2c 100644
--- a/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
+++ b/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
@@ -727,7 +727,7 @@ AUTH_SEED = env('AUTH_SEED')
 AUTH_REALM = env('AUTH_REALM')
 OTP_SERVER = env('OTP_SERVER')
 OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT = env('OTP_VERIFY_ENDPOINT')
-FIRST_VM_ID_AFTER_EU_VAT = env('FIRST_VM_ID_AFTER_EU_VAT')
+FIRST_VM_ID_AFTER_EU_VAT = int_env('FIRST_VM_ID_AFTER_EU_VAT')
 
 
 if DEBUG: