diff --git a/qubes/tests/integ/backupcompatibility.py b/qubes/tests/integ/backupcompatibility.py
index 2932683db..c2c32ec5d 100644
--- a/qubes/tests/integ/backupcompatibility.py
+++ b/qubes/tests/integ/backupcompatibility.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def create_private_img(self, filename):
         subprocess.check_call(["/usr/sbin/mkfs.ext4", "-q", "-F", filename])
 
     def create_volatile_img(self, filename):
-        self.create_sparse(filename, 11.5*2**30)
+        self.create_sparse(filename, int(11.5*2**30))
         # here used to be sfdisk call with "0,1024,S\n,10240,L\n" input,
         # but since sfdisk folks like to change command arguments in
         # incompatible way, have an partition table verbatim here