diff --git a/sdks/python/apache_beam/metrics/cells.py b/sdks/python/apache_beam/metrics/cells.py
index 8271a5c64d52..302d79ab5127 100644
--- a/sdks/python/apache_beam/metrics/cells.py
+++ b/sdks/python/apache_beam/metrics/cells.py
@@ -359,7 +359,8 @@ def to_runner_api(self):
 
   @staticmethod
   def from_runner_api(proto):
-    gauge_timestamp = proto.timestamp.seconds + proto.timestamp.nanos / 10**9
+    gauge_timestamp = (proto.timestamp.seconds +
+                       float(proto.timestamp.nanos) / 10**9)
     return GaugeData(proto.value, timestamp=gauge_timestamp)