diff --git a/module_citeq.lua b/module_citeq.lua
index 4dd248a..2ffb327 100644
--- a/module_citeq.lua
+++ b/module_citeq.lua
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ local function _cite_q (citeq_args)
 	local missing_names = {}
 	for i, author in pairs(names.authors or {}) do
 		-- mw.logObject(author)
-		if not author.last and i <= (citeq_args['display-authors'] or author_count) then
+		if not author.last and i <= (tonumber (citeq_args['display-authors']) or tonumber (author_count)) then
 			if author.qid then
 				-- ignore anonymous
 				if author.qid ~= 'Q4233718' then