diff --git a/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/limit.go b/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/limit.go
index 8b1f1e0517c5..0d6f14d88d77 100644
--- a/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/limit.go
+++ b/libbeat/processors/ratelimit/limit.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (l *rate) Unpack(str string) error {
 	valueStr := strings.TrimSpace(parts[0])
 	unitStr := strings.TrimSpace(parts[1])
 
-	v, err := strconv.ParseFloat(valueStr, 8)
+	v, err := strconv.ParseFloat(valueStr, 64)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf(`rate's value component is not numeric: %v`, valueStr)
 	}