diff --git a/cmpUtil.php b/cmpUtil.php
index cd64e18..394ff46 100644
--- a/cmpUtil.php
+++ b/cmpUtil.php
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@
 
 			switch(@$opt["return"]) {
 				case "retval":
-					return $retVal;
+					return 1*$retVal;
 
 				case "outstr":
 					return $out;