diff --git a/kombu/transport/pyredis.py b/kombu/transport/pyredis.py
index 9125ee7a..eef0e447 100644
--- a/kombu/transport/pyredis.py
+++ b/kombu/transport/pyredis.py
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ class Channel(virtual.Channel):
 
         version = getattr(redis, "__version__", (0, 0, 0))
         if version:
-            version = tuple(version.split("."))
+            version = tuple(map(int, version.split(".")))
         if version < (2, 4, 4):
             raise VersionMismatch(
                 "Redis transport requires redis-py versions 2.4.4 or later. "