diff --git a/src/python/m5/params.py b/src/python/m5/params.py
index 1e8c24584b..981bb0d37a 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/params.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/params.py
@@ -697,7 +697,7 @@ class EthernetAddr(ParamValue):
             raise TypeError, 'invalid ethernet address %s' % value
 
         for byte in bytes:
-            if not 0 <= int(byte) <= 0xff:
+            if not 0 <= int(byte, base=16) <= 0xff:
                 raise TypeError, 'invalid ethernet address %s' % value
 
         self.value = value