diff --git a/observation/basic_health.py b/observation/basic_health.py
index cb910961..7bb3ca6a 100755
--- a/observation/basic_health.py
+++ b/observation/basic_health.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class NoTargetsUpError(Exception):
 parser.add_option('--verify-duration', type='float', default=64.0,
                   help='Length of time to revisit source for verification, '
                        'in seconds (default=%default)')
-parser.add_option('--fengine-gain', type='int_or_default', default='default',
+parser.add_option('--fengine-gain', type='float_or_default', default='default',
                   help='Set correlator F-engine gain (average magnitude)')
 # Set default value for any option (both standard and experiment-specific options)
 parser.set_defaults(observer='basic_health', nd_params='off',
diff --git a/observation/bf_phaseup.py b/observation/bf_phaseup.py
index 79505fea..a67a0b4f 100755
--- a/observation/bf_phaseup.py
+++ b/observation/bf_phaseup.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def calculate_corrections(G_gains, B_gains, delays, cal_channel_freqs,
 parser.add_option('--verify-duration', type='float', default=64.0,
                   help='Length of time to revisit the source for verification, '
                        'in seconds (default=%default)')
-parser.add_option('--fengine-gain', type='int_or_default', default='default',
+parser.add_option('--fengine-gain', type='float_or_default', default='default',
                   help='Set correlator F-engine gain (average magnitude)')
 parser.add_option('--fft-shift', type='int_or_default',
                   help='Override correlator F-engine FFT shift')
diff --git a/observation/calibrate_delays.py b/observation/calibrate_delays.py
index c43c78b1..074fc962 100755
--- a/observation/calibrate_delays.py
+++ b/observation/calibrate_delays.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class NoTargetsUpError(Exception):
 parser.add_option('--verify-duration', type='float', default=64.0,
                   help='Length of time to revisit the source for verification, '
                        'in seconds (default=%default)')
-parser.add_option('--fengine-gain', type='int_or_default', default='default',
+parser.add_option('--fengine-gain', type='float_or_default', default='default',
                   help='Set correlator F-engine gain')
 parser.add_option('--fft-shift', type='int_or_default', default='default',
                   help='Set correlator F-engine FFT shift')