diff --git a/lisp/gnus/gnus-group.el b/lisp/gnus/gnus-group.el
index 56d42b41a82..996e8266105 100644
--- a/lisp/gnus/gnus-group.el
+++ b/lisp/gnus/gnus-group.el
@@ -2517,6 +2517,8 @@ the bug number, and browsing the URL must return mbox output."
   (interactive (list (string-to-number
 		      (read-string "Enter bug number: "
 				   (thing-at-point 'word) nil))))
+  (when (stringp ids)
+    (setq ids (string-to-number ids)))
   (unless (listp ids)
     (setq ids (list ids)))
   (gnus-read-ephemeral-bug-group