diff --git a/nibabies/config.py b/nibabies/config.py
index 08154068..71f2f187 100644
--- a/nibabies/config.py
+++ b/nibabies/config.py
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ def dismiss_echo(entities: list | None = None):
 
     entities = entities or []
     echo_idx = execution.echo_idx
-    if echo_idx is None or len(listify(echo_idx)) > 2:
+    if echo_idx is None or len(listify(str(echo_idx))) > 2:
         entities.append('echo')
     return entities