diff --git a/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py b/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py
index c9e2769..fc58270 100644
--- a/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py
+++ b/imas/backends/imas_core/db_entry_al.py
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ def put(self, ids: IDSToplevel, occurrence: int, is_slice: bool) -> None:
         if occurrence != 0:
             ll_path += f"/{occurrence}"
 
-        time_mode = ids.ids_properties.homogeneous_time
+        time_mode = int(ids.ids_properties.homogeneous_time)
         if is_slice:
             with self._db_ctx.global_action(ll_path, READ_OP) as read_ctx:
                 db_time_mode = read_ctx.read_data(