diff --git a/test/streaming-sim/test_rspec.py b/test/streaming-sim/test_rspec.py
index 801c15b1c3e6d7db8efbe11c8a7d237586d8fe66..0183b4c80ffb1f1788c0e75cfc28712d07c01ed6 100644
--- a/test/streaming-sim/test_rspec.py
+++ b/test/streaming-sim/test_rspec.py
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ def test_ping(streaming_sim_config):
     system_dependent_param = "-n" if system().lower() == "windows" else "-c"
 
     for service in streaming_sim_config['hosts']:
-        command = ["ping", "{0} {1}".format(system_dependent_param, ping_count), service['ip_address']]
+        command = ["ping", system_dependent_param, str(ping_count), service['ip_address']]
         assert run(command).returncode == 0, "Service ping test failed for {0}".format(service['name'])
         print("\nSuccessfully passed ping test for service: {0}\n".format(service['name']))