diff --git a/cli/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cli/net/ConnectivityIntentCommand.java b/cli/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cli/net/ConnectivityIntentCommand.java
index 713b4b5..e2753b2 100644
--- a/cli/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cli/net/ConnectivityIntentCommand.java
+++ b/cli/src/main/java/org/onosproject/cli/net/ConnectivityIntentCommand.java
@@ -371,7 +371,13 @@
 
         // Check for a bandwidth specification
         if (!isNullOrEmpty(bandwidthString)) {
-            final Bandwidth bandwidth = Bandwidth.bps(Double.parseDouble(bandwidthString));
+            Bandwidth bandwidth;
+            try {
+                bandwidth = Bandwidth.bps(Long.parseLong(bandwidthString));
+            // when the string can't be parsed as long, then try to parse as double
+            } catch (NumberFormatException e) {
+                bandwidth = Bandwidth.bps(Double.parseDouble(bandwidthString));
+            }
             constraints.add(new BandwidthConstraint(bandwidth));
         }