diff --git a/moto/sqs/responses.py b/moto/sqs/responses.py
index c489d711..b4f64b14 100644
--- a/moto/sqs/responses.py
+++ b/moto/sqs/responses.py
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class SQSResponse(BaseResponse):
         try:
             wait_time = int(self.querystring.get("WaitTimeSeconds")[0])
         except TypeError:
-            wait_time = queue.receive_message_wait_time_seconds
+            wait_time = int(queue.receive_message_wait_time_seconds)
 
         if wait_time < 0 or wait_time > 20:
             return self._error(
diff --git a/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py b/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
index d3e4ca91..bd6bbf0f 100644
--- a/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
+++ b/tests/test_sqs/test_sqs.py
@@ -1195,3 +1195,16 @@ def test_receive_messages_with_message_group_id_on_visibility_timeout():
         messages = queue.receive_messages()
         messages.should.have.length_of(1)
         messages[0].message_id.should.equal(message.message_id)
+
+@mock_sqs
+def test_receive_message_for_queue_with_receive_message_wait_time_seconds_set():
+    sqs = boto3.resource('sqs', region_name='us-east-1')
+
+    queue = sqs.create_queue(
+        QueueName='test-queue',
+        Attributes={
+            'ReceiveMessageWaitTimeSeconds': '2',
+        }
+    )
+
+    queue.receive_messages()