diff --git a/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/shib/properties/ShibPropertySettingJacksonSerializer.java b/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/shib/properties/ShibPropertySettingJacksonSerializer.java
index 6bd5b926c..c625c9acb 100644
--- a/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/shib/properties/ShibPropertySettingJacksonSerializer.java
+++ b/backend/src/main/java/edu/internet2/tier/shibboleth/admin/ui/domain/shib/properties/ShibPropertySettingJacksonSerializer.java
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ public void serialize(ShibPropertySetting sps, JsonGenerator generator, Serializ
             generator.writeBooleanField("propertyValue", Boolean.valueOf(sps.getPropertyValue()));
             break;
         case "number":
-            generator.writeNumberField("propertyValue", Long.parseLong(sps.getPropertyValue()));
+            try {
+                generator.writeNumberField("propertyValue", Long.parseLong(sps.getPropertyValue()));
+            } catch (NumberFormatException notANumber) {
+                generator.writeStringField("propertyValue", sps.getPropertyValue());
+            }
             break;
         default:
             generator.writeStringField("propertyValue", sps.getPropertyValue());