diff --git a/pykat/__init__.py b/pykat/__init__.py
index 49cfe37985aa88014c057efaeb9f5a3dced51259..8bcc2492eb6a44bc94bc1c9510c3ffcd76eefd57 100644
--- a/pykat/__init__.py
+++ b/pykat/__init__.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from __future__ import division
 from __future__ import print_function
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
-__version__ = "0.8.4"
+__version__ = "0.8.5"
 
 # This flag is used to switch on the gui features in pkat at import time
 USE_GUI = False
diff --git a/pykat/components.py b/pykat/components.py
index 90254f90341f6dbfef517ba3aab4856b1ec48433..f62916290e2f9560f410776cb65f3ecf76a5cc0f 100644
--- a/pykat/components.py
+++ b/pykat/components.py
@@ -1088,13 +1088,21 @@ class modulator(Component):
     def phase(self, value): self.__phase.value = SIfloat(value)
     
     @property 
-    def order(self): return int(self.__order)
+    def order(self): return self.__order
     @order.setter
     def order(self, value):
-        if value != 's' or (isinstance(value, int) and  value <= 1 and value > 6):
-            raise pkex.BasePyKatException("modulator order must be between 1 and 6 or 's' for single sideband")
+        
+        try:
+            value = int(value)
+            print(value)
+            if value <= 1 and value > 6:
+                raise pkex.BasePyKatException("modulator order must be between 1 and 6 or 's' for single sideband")
+                
+        except ValueError:
+            if value != 's' or (isinstance(value, int) and  value <= 1 and value > 6):
+                raise pkex.BasePyKatException("modulator order must be between 1 and 6 or 's' for single sideband")
 
-        self.__midx.value = value
+        self.__order = value
         
     
     @property