diff --git a/ki/handlers/update_profile.py b/ki/handlers/update_profile.py
index 26a188c..06d107b 100644
--- a/ki/handlers/update_profile.py
+++ b/ki/handlers/update_profile.py
@@ -138,7 +138,16 @@ def update_profile(user_id: int):
     profile.volunteerwork = request.json.get("volunteerwork", "")
     profile.availability_status = request.json.get("availability_status", False)
     profile.availability_text = request.json.get("availability_text", "")
-    profile.availability_hours_per_week = request.json.get("availability_hours_per_week", 0)
+
+    availability_hours_per_week_raw = request.json.get("availability_hours_per_week", 0)
+
+    try:
+        availability_hours_per_week = int(availability_hours_per_week_raw)
+    except:
+        availability_hours_per_week = 0
+
+    profile.availability_hours_per_week = availability_hours_per_week
+
     profile.freetext = request.json.get("freetext", "")
     profile.visible = request.json.get("visible", False)