diff --git a/users/ldap_funcs.py b/users/ldap_funcs.py
index 8e8d189..e9b6138 100644
--- a/users/ldap_funcs.py
+++ b/users/ldap_funcs.py
@@ -76,9 +76,21 @@ def get_max_uid():
     """
     try:
         with open(settings.LDAP_MAX_UID_PATH, 'r+') as handler:
-            return int(handler.read())
+            try:
+                return_value = int(handler.read())
+            except ValueError as ve:
+                logger.error(
+                    "Error reading int value from {}. {}"
+                    "Returning default value {} instead".format(
+                        settings.LDAP_MAX_UID_PATH,
+                        str(ve),
+                        settings.LDAP_DEFAULT_START_UID
+                    )
+                )
+                return_value = settings.LDAP_DEFAULT_START_UID
+            return return_value
     except FileNotFoundError as fnfe:
         logger.error("File not found : " + str(fnfe))
-        ret = settings.LDAP_DEFAULT_START_UID
-        logger.error("So, returing UID={}".format(ret))
-        return ret
\ No newline at end of file
+        retrun_value = settings.LDAP_DEFAULT_START_UID
+        logger.error("So, returning UID={}".format(retrun_value))
+        return retrun_value