diff --git a/SAS/ResourceAssignment/TaskPrescheduler/test/test_taskprescheduler.py b/SAS/ResourceAssignment/TaskPrescheduler/test/test_taskprescheduler.py
index 85a39a65784f64161b79ef15d1fbf2f1539c05d8..d3d7fdc5f44b5745e50e502a7c5cbd886274fe79 100755
--- a/SAS/ResourceAssignment/TaskPrescheduler/test/test_taskprescheduler.py
+++ b/SAS/ResourceAssignment/TaskPrescheduler/test/test_taskprescheduler.py
@@ -292,7 +292,14 @@ class PreschedulerTest(unittest.TestCase):
         spec = Specification(self.otdbrpc_mock, self.momrpc_mock, self.radbrpc_mock)
         spec.internal_dict = self.test_specification
         cobalt_settings = calculateCobaltSettings(spec)
+
+        # beware! assertEqual succeeds for a comparison between 42.0 and 42
+        # but for lofar specs it is essential that some values are int
+        # so, check specifically for those!
         self.assertEqual(cobalt_settings, self.test_cobalt_settings)
+        self.assertEqual(int, type(cobalt_settings['blockSize']))
+        self.assertEqual(int, type(cobalt_settings['nrBlocks']))
+        self.assertEqual(int, type(cobalt_settings['nrSubBlocks']))
 
     @mock.patch("lofar.common.util.waitForInterrupt")
     @mock.patch("lofar.messaging.messagebus.BusListener.start_listening")