diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index cb55143ac..1d08ed6e0 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 - Fix proxy policy doesn't send headers set by APIcast to the API Backend. [PR #1588](https://github.com/3scale/APIcast/pull/1588) [THREESCALE-10151](https://redhat.atlassian.net/browse/THREESCALE-10151)
 - Ensure the synchronization key is released correctly. [PR #1591](https://github.com/3scale/APIcast/pull/1590)
 - Use new cpu.requests formula from Kubernetes. [PR #1595](https://github.com/3scale/APIcast/pull/1595) [THREESCALE-15465](https://redhat.atlassian.net/browse/THREESCALE-15465)
+- Fix batcher policy fails silently when configured with string values instead of integers. [PR #1597](https://github.com/3scale/APIcast/pull/1597) [THREESCALE-15547](https://redhat.atlassian.net/browse/THREESCALE-15547)
 
 ### Added
 - Update APIcast schema manifest [PR #1550](https://github.com/3scale/APIcast/pull/1550)
diff --git a/gateway/src/apicast/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher.lua b/gateway/src/apicast/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher.lua
index 7b726c576..5d0b38d51 100644
--- a/gateway/src/apicast/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher.lua
+++ b/gateway/src/apicast/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher.lua
@@ -9,9 +9,10 @@ local Transaction = require('transaction')
 local http_ng_resty = require('resty.http_ng.backend.resty')
 local semaphore = require('ngx.semaphore')
 local TimerTask = require('resty.concurrent.timer_task')
-
 local metrics = require('apicast.policy.3scale_batcher.metrics')
 
+local tonumber = tonumber
+
 local default_auths_ttl = 10
 local default_batch_reports_seconds = 10
 
@@ -32,13 +33,13 @@ end
 function _M.new(config)
   local self = new(config)
 
-  local auths_ttl = config.auths_ttl or default_auths_ttl
+  local auths_ttl = tonumber(config.auths_ttl) or default_auths_ttl
   self.auths_cache = AuthsCache.new(ngx.shared.cached_auths, auths_ttl)
 
   self.reports_batcher = ReportsBatcher.new(
     ngx.shared.batched_reports, 'batched_reports_locks')
 
-  self.batch_reports_seconds = config.batch_report_seconds or
+  self.batch_reports_seconds = tonumber(config.batch_report_seconds) or
                                default_batch_reports_seconds
 
   -- Semaphore used to ensure that only one TimerTask is started per worker.
diff --git a/spec/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher_spec.lua b/spec/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher_spec.lua
index c73dc192f..f43842d07 100644
--- a/spec/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/policy/3scale_batcher/3scale_batcher_spec.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 local ThreescaleBatcher = require('apicast.policy.3scale_batcher')
+local policy_config_validator = require('apicast.policy_config_validator')
 local AuthsCache = require('apicast.policy.3scale_batcher.auths_cache')
 local Transaction = require('apicast.policy.3scale_batcher.transaction')
 local Usage = require('apicast.usage')
@@ -26,6 +27,55 @@ describe('3scale batcher policy', function()
 
       assert.equals(10, batcher_policy.batch_reports_seconds)
     end)
+
+    it('converts string batch_report_seconds to number', function()
+      stub(policy_config_validator, 'validate_config').returns(true)
+      local config = { batch_report_seconds = '5' }
+      local batcher_policy = ThreescaleBatcher.new(config)
+
+      assert.equals(5, batcher_policy.batch_reports_seconds)
+      policy_config_validator.validate_config:revert()
+    end)
+
+    it('uses default when batch_report_seconds is a non-numeric string', function()
+      stub(policy_config_validator, 'validate_config').returns(true)
+      local config = { batch_report_seconds = 'invalid' }
+      local batcher_policy = ThreescaleBatcher.new(config)
+
+      assert.equals(10, batcher_policy.batch_reports_seconds)
+      policy_config_validator.validate_config:revert()
+    end)
+
+    it('allows to configure the auths TTL', function()
+      local config = { auths_ttl = 30 }
+      local batcher_policy = ThreescaleBatcher.new(config)
+
+      assert.equals(30, batcher_policy.auths_cache.ttl)
+    end)
+
+    it('assigns a default of 10s for the auths TTL', function()
+      local batcher_policy = ThreescaleBatcher.new({})
+
+      assert.equals(10, batcher_policy.auths_cache.ttl)
+    end)
+
+    it('converts string auths_ttl to number', function()
+      stub(policy_config_validator, 'validate_config').returns(true)
+      local config = { auths_ttl = '20' }
+      local batcher_policy = ThreescaleBatcher.new(config)
+
+      assert.equals(20, batcher_policy.auths_cache.ttl)
+      policy_config_validator.validate_config:revert()
+    end)
+
+    it('uses default when auths_ttl is a non-numeric string', function()
+      stub(policy_config_validator, 'validate_config').returns(true)
+      local config = { auths_ttl = 'invalid' }
+      local batcher_policy = ThreescaleBatcher.new(config)
+
+      assert.equals(10, batcher_policy.auths_cache.ttl)
+      policy_config_validator.validate_config:revert()
+    end)
   end)
 
   describe('.rewrite', function()