diff --git a/mariadb/templates/bin/_start.py.tpl b/mariadb/templates/bin/_start.py.tpl
index 4d4428c6f..d0b9c8e57 100644
--- a/mariadb/templates/bin/_start.py.tpl
+++ b/mariadb/templates/bin/_start.py.tpl
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ elif get_cluster_state() == 'init':
     run_mysqld()
 elif get_cluster_state() == 'live':
     logger.info("Cluster has been running starting restore/rejoin")
-    if not mariadb_replicas > 1:
+    if not int(mariadb_replicas) > 1:
         logger.info(
             "There is only a single node in this cluster, we are good to go")
         update_grastate_on_restart()