diff --git a/check_home_assistant_state.py b/check_home_assistant_state.py
index 4624d24..544ec78 100755
--- a/check_home_assistant_state.py
+++ b/check_home_assistant_state.py
@@ -62,9 +62,10 @@ class Entities(nagiosplugin.Resource):
                     uom = None
                 else:
                     if self.numeric:
-                        value = (
-                            float(state["state"]) if state["state"].isnumeric() else -1
-                        )
+                        try:
+                            value = float(state["state"])
+                        except ValueError:
+                            value = "-1"
                     else:
                         value = state["state"]
                     uom = state["attributes"].get("unit_of_measurement")