diff --git a/modoboa/policyd/utils.py b/modoboa/policyd/utils.py
index 848862b71..430e9accb 100644
--- a/modoboa/policyd/utils.py
+++ b/modoboa/policyd/utils.py
@@ -7,5 +7,8 @@ from . import constants
 
 def get_message_counter(key):
     """Return current counter for given key."""
-    rclient = get_redis_connection()
-    return rclient.hget(constants.REDIS_HASHNAME, key)
+    rclient = get_redis_connection(hget_return_type=None)
+    value = rclient.hget(constants.REDIS_HASHNAME, key)
+    if value is None:
+        return None
+    return int(value)