diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 915d97d9..e42b7618 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.17.3-develop3
+1.17.3-develop4
diff --git a/modules/meta.py b/modules/meta.py
index c907bae1..30e750b8 100644
--- a/modules/meta.py
+++ b/modules/meta.py
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class DataFile:
                         variables[f"{key}_encoded"] = requests.utils.quote(str(value))
 
                     def replace_var(input_item, search_dict):
-                        return_item = input_item
+                        return_item = str(input_item)
                         for rk, rv in search_dict.items():
                             if f"<<{rk}>>" in return_item:
                                 return_item = return_item.replace(f"<<{rk}>>", str(rv))