diff --git a/telethon/telegram_bare_client.py b/telethon/telegram_bare_client.py
index 4cd94c62..312e4835 100644
--- a/telethon/telegram_bare_client.py
+++ b/telethon/telegram_bare_client.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class TelegramBareClient:
            can also be specified to be used on the connection.
         """
         self.session = session
-        self.api_id = api_id
+        self.api_id = int(api_id)
         self.api_hash = api_hash
         self.proxy = proxy
         self._logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)