diff --git a/src/bridgeState.js b/src/bridgeState.js
index 4fa8607f..75bdfd49 100644
--- a/src/bridgeState.js
+++ b/src/bridgeState.js
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ module.exports = class BridgeState {
       this.web3,
       contracts,
       this.eventsBuffer,
-      genesisBlock
+      parseInt(genesisBlock, 10)
     );
     const blockNumber = await this.web3.eth.getBlockNumber();
     await this.eventsSubscription.init();