diff --git a/mythtv/bindings/python/MythTV/ttvdb/requests_cache_compatability.py b/mythtv/bindings/python/MythTV/ttvdb/requests_cache_compatability.py
index 3d6a056f42..f76d23791f 100644
--- a/mythtv/bindings/python/MythTV/ttvdb/requests_cache_compatability.py
+++ b/mythtv/bindings/python/MythTV/ttvdb/requests_cache_compatability.py
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@ except Exception as e:
         """
         if not self._cache_expire_after:
             return
+        # just in case expire_after is not converted in the
+        #  original constructor, convert it to a timedelta
+        if not isinstance(self._cache_expire_after, timedelta):
+            self._cache_expire_after = timedelta(seconds=self._cache_expire_after)
+
         self.cache.remove_old_entries(datetime.utcnow() - self._cache_expire_after)