diff --git a/tephi/__init__.py b/tephi/__init__.py
index e65ed75..4030683 100644
--- a/tephi/__init__.py
+++ b/tephi/__init__.py
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ def _repr(nt):
                 if multiple_titles:
                     tephidata = namedtuple("tephidata", column_titles[ct])
                 tephidata.__repr__ = _repr
-                payload = np.loadtxt(arg, dtype=dtype, delimiter=delimiter)
+                payload = np.loadtxt(arg, dtype=dtype, delimiter=delimiter, converters=float)
                 item = tephidata(*payload.T)
                 data.append(item)
             else: