diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..15e22ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+*~
+*.egg-info
+*.pyc
+*.swo
+*.swp
+.coverage
+build
+dist
diff --git a/socketIO/__init__.py b/socketIO/__init__.py
index 07fd24c..1299268 100644
--- a/socketIO/__init__.py
+++ b/socketIO/__init__.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ class SocketIO(object):
 
     def __init__(self, host, port):
         self.host = host
-        self.port = port
+        self.port = int(port)
         self.__do_handshake()
         self.__connect()
         self.heartbeatThread = RhythmicThread(self.heartbeatTimeout - 2, self.__send_heartbeat)