diff --git a/pykat/components.py b/pykat/components.py
index 968a5e85b600dc7973e13d80353fc72ce9732fc0..e9388a9dabe7befcdc888e3ad83da3820e44792d 100644
--- a/pykat/components.py
+++ b/pykat/components.py
@@ -209,11 +209,11 @@ class space(Component):
     @property
     def L(self): return Param('L', self.__L)
     @L.setter
-    def L(self,value): self.__L = float(value)
+    def L(self,value): self.__L = SIfloat(value)
     @property
     def n(self): return Param('n', self.__n)
     @n.setter
-    def n(self,value): self.__n = float(value)
+    def n(self,value): self.__n = SIfloat(value)
     
     @staticmethod
     def parseFinesseText(text):