diff --git a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format_pack.py b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format_pack.py
index cc173f8..bf582a0 100644
--- a/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format_pack.py
+++ b/src/gallium/auxiliary/util/u_format_pack.py
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ def get_one_shift(type):
 def value_to_native(type, value):
     '''Get the value of unity for this type.'''
     if type.type == FLOAT:
-        return value
+        return float(value)
     if type.type == FIXED:
         return int(value * (1 << (type.size/2)))
     if not type.norm: