diff --git a/homeassistant/components/rfxtrx.py b/homeassistant/components/rfxtrx.py
index d684d319117..3030bdc30b9 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/rfxtrx.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/rfxtrx.py
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ def _valid_device(value, device_type):
             key = device.get('packetid')
             device.pop('packetid')
 
+        key = str(key)
         if not len(key) % 2 == 0:
             key = '0' + key
 
diff --git a/tests/components/switch/test_rfxtrx.py b/tests/components/switch/test_rfxtrx.py
index f0146719e75..72c13bd0ba4 100644
--- a/tests/components/switch/test_rfxtrx.py
+++ b/tests/components/switch/test_rfxtrx.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class TestSwitchRfxtrx(unittest.TestCase):
             'switch': {'platform': 'rfxtrx',
                        'automatic_add': True,
                        'devices':
-                           {'710000141010170': {
+                           {710000141010170: {
                                'name': 'Test',
                                rfxtrx_core.ATTR_FIREEVENT: True}
                             }}}))