diff --git a/main.nf b/main.nf
index e08c551f..096e2179 100755
--- a/main.nf
+++ b/main.nf
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ nextflow.enable.dsl = 2
 WorkflowMain.initialise(workflow, params, log)
 
 //Check coverage is above its threshold
-if (params.coverage < 30) { exit 1, 'The minimum coverage allowed for QA/QC purposes is 30 and is the default. Please choose a value >=30.' }
+if (params.coverage.toInteger() < 30) { exit 1, 'The minimum coverage allowed for QA/QC purposes is 30 and is the default. Please choose a value >=30.' }
 //Check path of kraken2db
 if (params.kraken2db == null) { exit 1, 'Input path to kraken2db not specified!' }
 
diff --git a/nextflow_schema.json b/nextflow_schema.json
index 81a87a0d..a30371cf 100755
--- a/nextflow_schema.json
+++ b/nextflow_schema.json
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@
                     "fa_icon": "fas fa-folder-open"
                 },
                 "coverage": {
-                    "type": "string",
+                    "type": "integer",
                     "description": "If you want to increase the coverage cut off >30x use --coverage (ex. --coverage 40)",
-                    "default": "30",
+                    "default": 30,
                     "fa_icon": "fas fa-hashtag"
                 },
                 "busco_db_path": {