diff --git a/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py b/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py
index 45740f41..335737b5 100755
--- a/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py
+++ b/client-api/api_lib/pvcapi_helper.py
@@ -310,7 +310,9 @@ def vm_console(vm, lines=None):
     Return the current console log for VM.
     """
     # Default to 10 lines of log if not set
-    if not lines:
+    try:
+        lines = int(lines)
+    except TypeError:
         lines = 10
 
     zk_conn = pvc_common.startZKConnection(config['coordinators'])
diff --git a/client-api/pvc-api.py b/client-api/pvc-api.py
index f4e10b93..0a537740 100755
--- a/client-api/pvc-api.py
+++ b/client-api/pvc-api.py
@@ -1331,7 +1331,7 @@ class API_VM_Console(Resource):
         """
         return api_helper.vm_console(
             vm,
-            int(reqargs.get('lines', None))
+            reqargs.get('lines', None)
         )
 api.add_resource(API_VM_Console, '/vm/<vm>/console')