diff --git a/docker/lama/dev.env b/docker/lama/dev.env
index 939367e..1f640cd 100644
--- a/docker/lama/dev.env
+++ b/docker/lama/dev.env
@@ -28,3 +28,5 @@ LDAP_GROUP_NAME_ATTR=cn
 EMAIL_BACKEND=file
 DEFAULT_FROM_EMAIL=
 SERVER_EMAIL=
+
+DELETION_WAIT_DAYS=14
diff --git a/src/core/docker_settings.py b/src/core/docker_settings.py
index 59a58e3..6783c79 100644
--- a/src/core/docker_settings.py
+++ b/src/core/docker_settings.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ SITE_NAME = os.environ['SITE_NAME']
 SECRET_KEY = os.environ['SECRET_KEY']
 DEBUG = os.environ.get('DEBUG', 'False') == 'True'
 ALLOWED_HOSTS = os.environ['ALLOWED_HOSTS'].split()
-DELETION_WAIT_DAYS = os.environ.get('DELETION_WAIT_DAYS', 14)
+DELETION_WAIT_DAYS = int(os.environ.get('DELETION_WAIT_DAYS', "14"))
 
 # Application definition
 INSTALLED_APPS = [