diff --git a/apps/settings/lib/Controller/MailSettingsController.php b/apps/settings/lib/Controller/MailSettingsController.php
index 9fb3266c899ac..ff2c697045499 100644
--- a/apps/settings/lib/Controller/MailSettingsController.php
+++ b/apps/settings/lib/Controller/MailSettingsController.php
@@ -57,11 +57,12 @@ public function setMailSettings(
 		string $mail_smtpsecure,
 		string $mail_smtphost,
 		?bool $mail_smtpauth,
-		string $mail_smtpport,
+		string|int $mail_smtpport,
 		string $mail_sendmailmode,
 		?bool $mail_noverify = null,
 	): DataResponse {
 		$mail_smtpauth = $mail_smtpauth == '1';
+		$mail_smtpport = (string)$mail_smtpport;
 
 		$configs = [
 			'mail_domain' => $mail_domain,