diff --git a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py
index 97fd48daf6..3aaf51d009 100644
--- a/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py
+++ b/pythonforandroid/bootstraps/common/build/build.py
@@ -498,14 +498,16 @@ def make_package(args):
     with open('project.properties', 'r') as fileh:
         target = fileh.read().strip()
     android_api = target.split('-')[1]
-    try:
-        int(android_api)
-    except (ValueError, TypeError):
+
+    if android_api.isdigit():
+        android_api = int(android_api)
+    else:
         raise ValueError(
             "failed to extract the Android API level from " +
             "build.properties. expected int, got: '" +
             str(android_api) + "'"
         )
+
     with open('local.properties', 'r') as fileh:
         sdk_dir = fileh.read().strip()
     sdk_dir = sdk_dir[8:]