diff --git a/winrm/protocol.py b/winrm/protocol.py
index 29a40967..0f64cf9a 100644
--- a/winrm/protocol.py
+++ b/winrm/protocol.py
@@ -52,6 +52,16 @@ def __init__(
         @param bool message_encryption_enabled: Will encrypt the WinRM messages if set to True and the transport auth supports message encryption (Default True).
         """
 
+        try:
+            read_timeout_sec = int(read_timeout_sec)
+        except ValueError as ve:
+            raise ValueError("failed to parse read_timeout_sec as int: %s" % str(ve))
+
+        try:
+            operation_timeout_sec = int(operation_timeout_sec)
+        except ValueError as ve:
+            raise ValueError("failed to parse operation_timeout_sec as int: %s" % str(ve))
+
         if operation_timeout_sec >= read_timeout_sec or operation_timeout_sec < 1:
             raise WinRMError("read_timeout_sec must exceed operation_timeout_sec, and both must be non-zero")
 
diff --git a/winrm/tests/test_protocol.py b/winrm/tests/test_protocol.py
index b60e274c..5a524f0c 100644
--- a/winrm/tests/test_protocol.py
+++ b/winrm/tests/test_protocol.py
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+import pytest
+
+from winrm.protocol import Protocol
+
+
 def test_open_shell_and_close_shell(protocol_fake):
     shell_id = protocol_fake.open_shell()
     assert shell_id == '11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111113'
@@ -34,3 +39,35 @@ def test_get_command_output(protocol_fake):
 
     protocol_fake.cleanup_command(shell_id, command_id)
     protocol_fake.close_shell(shell_id)
+
+
+def test_set_timeout_as_sec():
+    protocol = Protocol('endpoint',
+                        username='username',
+                        password='password',
+                        read_timeout_sec='30',
+                        operation_timeout_sec='29')
+    assert protocol.read_timeout_sec == 30
+    assert protocol.operation_timeout_sec == 29
+
+
+def test_fail_set_read_timeout_as_sec():
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc:
+        protocol = Protocol('endpoint',
+                            username='username',
+                            password='password',
+                            read_timeout_sec='30a',
+                            operation_timeout_sec='29')
+    assert str(exc.value) == "failed to parse read_timeout_sec as int: " \
+        "invalid literal for int() with base 10: '30a'"
+
+
+def test_fail_set_operation_timeout_as_sec():
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError) as exc:
+        protocol = Protocol('endpoint',
+                            username='username',
+                            password='password',
+                            read_timeout_sec=30,
+                            operation_timeout_sec='29a')
+    assert str(exc.value) == "failed to parse operation_timeout_sec as int: " \
+        "invalid literal for int() with base 10: '29a'"