diff --git a/moto/sqs/models.py b/moto/sqs/models.py
index f2e3ed400..6779bc2b5 100644
--- a/moto/sqs/models.py
+++ b/moto/sqs/models.py
@@ -263,6 +263,9 @@ class Queue(BaseModel):
         if 'maxReceiveCount' not in self.redrive_policy:
             raise RESTError('InvalidParameterValue', 'Redrive policy does not contain maxReceiveCount')
 
+        # 'maxReceiveCount' is stored as int
+        self.redrive_policy['maxReceiveCount'] = int(self.redrive_policy['maxReceiveCount'])
+
         for queue in sqs_backends[self.region].queues.values():
             if queue.queue_arn == self.redrive_policy['deadLetterTargetArn']:
                 self.dead_letter_queue = queue
diff --git a/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py b/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
index d53ae50f7..56d82ea61 100644
--- a/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
+++ b/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
@@ -1117,6 +1117,28 @@ def test_redrive_policy_set_attributes():
     assert copy_policy == redrive_policy
 
 
+@mock_sqs
+def test_redrive_policy_set_attributes_with_string_value():
+    sqs = boto3.resource('sqs', region_name='us-east-1')
+
+    queue = sqs.create_queue(QueueName='test-queue')
+    deadletter_queue = sqs.create_queue(QueueName='test-deadletter')
+
+    queue.set_attributes(Attributes={
+        'RedrivePolicy': json.dumps({
+            'deadLetterTargetArn': deadletter_queue.attributes['QueueArn'],
+            'maxReceiveCount': '1',
+        })})
+
+    copy = sqs.get_queue_by_name(QueueName='test-queue')
+    assert 'RedrivePolicy' in copy.attributes
+    copy_policy = json.loads(copy.attributes['RedrivePolicy'])
+    assert copy_policy == {
+        'deadLetterTargetArn': deadletter_queue.attributes['QueueArn'],
+        'maxReceiveCount': 1,
+    }
+
+
 @mock_sqs
 def test_receive_messages_with_message_group_id():
     sqs = boto3.resource('sqs', region_name='us-east-1')