diff --git a/samcli/local/apigw/local_apigw_service.py b/samcli/local/apigw/local_apigw_service.py
index fb71e0ed6a..e1d2a9114a 100644
--- a/samcli/local/apigw/local_apigw_service.py
+++ b/samcli/local/apigw/local_apigw_service.py
@@ -211,7 +211,11 @@ def _parse_lambda_output(lambda_output, binary_types, flask_request):
         body = json_output.get("body") or "no data"
         is_base_64_encoded = json_output.get("isBase64Encoded") or False
 
-        if not isinstance(status_code, int) or status_code <= 0:
+        try:
+            status_code = int(status_code)
+            if status_code <= 0:
+                raise ValueError
+        except ValueError:
             message = "statusCode must be a positive int"
             LOG.error(message)
             raise TypeError(message)
diff --git a/tests/integration/local/start_api/test_start_api.py b/tests/integration/local/start_api/test_start_api.py
index c32c2429f8..577c6acbcb 100644
--- a/tests/integration/local/start_api/test_start_api.py
+++ b/tests/integration/local/start_api/test_start_api.py
@@ -324,6 +324,14 @@ def test_default_status_code(self):
         self.assertEquals(response.status_code, 200)
         self.assertEquals(response.json(), {'hello': 'world'})
 
+    def test_string_status_code(self):
+        """
+        Test that an integer-string can be returned as the status code
+        """
+        response = requests.get(self.url + "/stringstatuscode")
+
+        self.assertEquals(response.status_code, 200)
+
     def test_default_body(self):
         """
         Test that if no body is given, the response is 'no data'
diff --git a/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/main.py b/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/main.py
index 98e1cae3f6..9304ec8495 100644
--- a/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/main.py
+++ b/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/main.py
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ def only_set_body_handler(event, context):
     return {"body": json.dumps({"hello": "world"})}
 
 
+def string_status_code_handler(event, context):
+
+    return {"statusCode": "200", "body": json.dumps({"hello": "world"})}
+
+
 def sleep_10_sec_handler(event, context):
     # sleep thread for 10s. This is useful for testing multiple requests
     time.sleep(10)
diff --git a/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/template.yaml b/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/template.yaml
index 8ece84b2cf..d3ec04ec57 100644
--- a/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/template.yaml
+++ b/tests/integration/testdata/start_api/template.yaml
@@ -111,6 +111,19 @@ Resources:
             Method: Get
             Path: /onlysetbody
 
+  StringStatusCodeFunction:
+    Type: AWS::Serverless::Function
+    Properties:
+      Handler: main.string_status_code_handler
+      Runtime: python3.6
+      CodeUri: .
+      Events:
+        StringStatusCodePath:
+          Type: Api
+          Properties:
+            Method: Get
+            Path: /stringstatuscode
+
   SleepFunction0:
     Type: AWS::Serverless::Function
     Properties:
diff --git a/tests/unit/local/apigw/test_local_apigw_service.py b/tests/unit/local/apigw/test_local_apigw_service.py
index 234554deca..712674ff36 100644
--- a/tests/unit/local/apigw/test_local_apigw_service.py
+++ b/tests/unit/local/apigw/test_local_apigw_service.py
@@ -341,6 +341,15 @@ def test_status_code_not_int(self):
                                                    binary_types=[],
                                                    flask_request=Mock())
 
+    def test_status_code_int_str(self):
+        lambda_output = '{"statusCode": "200", "headers": {}, "body": "{\\"message\\":\\"Hello from Lambda\\"}", ' \
+                        '"isBase64Encoded": false}'
+
+        (status_code, _, _) = LocalApigwService._parse_lambda_output(lambda_output,
+                                                                     binary_types=[],
+                                                                     flask_request=Mock())
+        self.assertEquals(status_code, 200)
+
     def test_status_code_negative_int(self):
         lambda_output = '{"statusCode": -1, "headers": {}, "body": "{\\"message\\":\\"Hello from Lambda\\"}", ' \
                             '"isBase64Encoded": false}'
@@ -350,6 +359,15 @@ def test_status_code_negative_int(self):
                                                    binary_types=[],
                                                    flask_request=Mock())
 
+    def test_status_code_negative_int_str(self):
+        lambda_output = '{"statusCode": "-1", "headers": {}, "body": "{\\"message\\":\\"Hello from Lambda\\"}", ' \
+                            '"isBase64Encoded": false}'
+
+        with self.assertRaises(TypeError):
+            LocalApigwService._parse_lambda_output(lambda_output,
+                                                   binary_types=[],
+                                                   flask_request=Mock())
+
     def test_lambda_output_list_not_dict(self):
         lambda_output = '[]'