diff --git a/barrOs_library.py b/barrOs_library.py
index fd7acb04acc9f5de2a57b2597cf1fb71c6091659..ba70045cda30f7ee2c9173b68aadfbcace3aa377 100644
--- a/barrOs_library.py
+++ b/barrOs_library.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def get_inputs(argv):
             elif '-extract_hairpins' in arg:
                 extract_hairpins = True
             elif '-strandist' in arg:
-                distance_threshold = int(arg.split(':')[1])
+                distance_threshold = float(arg.split(':')[1])
 
             if found_input and not found_mode:
                 if input_type in accepted_input_types: