diff --git a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce_loadbalancer_external.go b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce_loadbalancer_external.go
index 7d78e59e74c..e3e9b80212f 100644
--- a/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce_loadbalancer_external.go
+++ b/pkg/cloudprovider/providers/gce/gce_loadbalancer_external.go
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ func (gce *GCECloud) ensureHttpHealthCheckFirewall(serviceName, ipAddress, regio
 	if fw.Description != desc ||
 		len(fw.Allowed) != 1 ||
 		fw.Allowed[0].IPProtocol != string(ports[0].Protocol) ||
-		!equalStringSets(fw.Allowed[0].Ports, []string{string(ports[0].Port)}) ||
+		!equalStringSets(fw.Allowed[0].Ports, []string{strconv.Itoa(int(ports[0].Port))}) ||
 		!equalStringSets(fw.SourceRanges, sourceRanges.StringSlice()) {
 		glog.Warningf("Firewall %v exists but parameters have drifted - updating...", fwName)
 		if err := gce.updateFirewall(fwName, region, desc, sourceRanges, ports, hosts); err != nil {