diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2d1d6d07..9e7f6082 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ network_config { 'eth0':
   ensure  => 'present',
   family  => 'inet',
   method  => 'dhcp',
-  onboot  => 'true',
-  hotplug => 'true',
+  onboot  => true,
+  hotplug => true,
   options => {'pre-up' => 'sleep 2'},
 }
 
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ network_config { 'lo':
   ensure => 'present',
   family => 'inet',
   method => 'loopback',
-  onboot => 'true',
+  onboot => true,
 }
 
 network_config { 'eth1':
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ network_config { 'eth1':
   ipaddress => '169.254.0.1',
   method    => 'static',
   netmask   => '255.255.0.0',
-  onboot    => 'true',
+  onboot    => true,
 }
 ```
 
@@ -82,26 +82,28 @@ network_route { 'default':
 
 Create resources on the fly with the `puppet resource` command:
 
-    root@debian-6:~# puppet resource network_config eth1 ensure=present family=inet method=static ipaddress=169.254.0.1 netmask=255.255.0.0
-    notice: /Network_config[eth1]/ensure: created
-    network_config { 'eth1':
-      ensure    => 'present',
-      family    => 'inet',
-      ipaddress => '169.254.0.1',
-      method    => 'static',
-      netmask   => '255.255.0.0',
-      onboot    => 'true',
-    }
-
-    # puppet resource network_route 23.23.42.0 ensure=present netmask=255.255.255.0 interface=eth0 gateway=192.168.1.1
-    notice: /Network_route[23.23.42.0]/ensure: created
-    network_route { '23.23.42.0':
-      ensure    => 'present',
-      gateway   => '192.168.1.1',
-      interface => 'eth0',
-      netmask   => '255.255.255.0',
-      options   => 'table 200',
-    }
+```
+root@debian-6:~# puppet resource network_config eth1 ensure=present family=inet method=static ipaddress=169.254.0.1 netmask=255.255.0.0
+notice: /Network_config[eth1]/ensure: created
+network_config { 'eth1':
+  ensure    => 'present',
+  family    => 'inet',
+  ipaddress => '169.254.0.1',
+  method    => 'static',
+  netmask   => '255.255.0.0',
+  onboot    => true,
+}
+
+# puppet resource network_route 23.23.42.0 ensure=present netmask=255.255.255.0 interface=eth0 gateway=192.168.1.1
+notice: /Network_route[23.23.42.0]/ensure: created
+network_route { '23.23.42.0':
+  ensure    => 'present',
+  gateway   => '192.168.1.1',
+  interface => 'eth0',
+  netmask   => '255.255.255.0',
+  options   => 'table 200',
+}
+```
 
 ## Dependencies
 
diff --git a/lib/puppet/provider/network_config/interfaces.rb b/lib/puppet/provider/network_config/interfaces.rb
index 73b32865..c27e86ea 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/provider/network_config/interfaces.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/provider/network_config/interfaces.rb
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def self.parse_file(_filename, contents)
             case key # rubocop:disable Metrics/BlockNesting
             when 'address' then         Instance[name].ipaddress    = val
             when 'netmask' then         Instance[name].netmask      = val
-            when 'mtu' then             Instance[name].mtu          = val
+            when 'mtu' then             Instance[name].mtu          = val.to_i
             else Instance[name].options[key] << val
             end
           end
diff --git a/lib/puppet/type/network_config.rb b/lib/puppet/type/network_config.rb
index 1e3cadd4..6b19ce25 100644
--- a/lib/puppet/type/network_config.rb
+++ b/lib/puppet/type/network_config.rb
@@ -86,15 +86,8 @@
     desc 'The Maximum Transmission Unit size to use for the interface'
     validate do |value|
       # reject floating point and negative integers
-      # XXX this lets 1500.0 pass
-      if value.is_a? Numeric
-        unless value.integer?
-          raise ArgumentError, "#{value} is not a valid mtu (must be a positive integer)"
-        end
-      else
-        unless value =~ %r{^\d+$}
-          raise ArgumentError, "#{value} is not a valid mtu (must be a positive integer)"
-        end
+      unless value.is_a?(Numeric) && value.integer?
+        raise ArgumentError, "#{value} is not a valid mtu (must be a positive integer)"
       end
 
       # Intel 82598 & 82599 chips support MTUs up to 16110; is there any
@@ -106,7 +99,7 @@
       # is 42 with a 802.1q header and 46 without.
       min_mtu = 42
       max_mtu = 65_536
-      unless (min_mtu..max_mtu).cover?(value.to_i)
+      unless min_mtu <= value && value <= max_mtu
         raise ArgumentError, "#{value} is not in the valid mtu range (#{min_mtu} .. #{max_mtu})"
       end
     end
diff --git a/manifests/bond.pp b/manifests/bond.pp
index 64e936b4..92bcd5a1 100644
--- a/manifests/bond.pp
+++ b/manifests/bond.pp
@@ -139,25 +139,25 @@
 #
 define network::bond(
   $slaves,
-  $ensure           = present,
-  $ipaddress        = undef,
-  $netmask          = undef,
-  $method           = undef,
-  $family           = undef,
-  $onboot           = undef,
-  $hotplug          = undef,
-  $lacp_rate        = undef,
-  $mtu              = undef,
-  $options          = undef,
-  $slave_options    = undef,
+  $ensure                            = present,
+  $ipaddress                         = undef,
+  $netmask                           = undef,
+  $method                            = undef,
+  $family                            = undef,
+Optional[Boolean] $onboot            = undef,
+Optional[Boolean] $hotplug           = undef,
+  $lacp_rate                         = undef,
+Network::MTU $mtu                    = undef,
+  $options                           = undef,
+  $slave_options                     = undef,
 
-  $mode             = 'active-backup',
-  $miimon           = '100',
-  $downdelay        = '200',
-  $updelay          = '200',
-  $primary          = $slaves[0],
-  $primary_reselect = 'always',
-  $xmit_hash_policy = 'layer2',
+  $mode                              = 'active-backup',
+Network::PositiveInteger $miimon     = 100,
+Network::PositiveInteger $downdelay  = 200,
+Network::PositiveInteger $updelay    = 200,
+  $primary                           = $slaves[0],
+  $primary_reselect                  = 'always',
+  $xmit_hash_policy                  = 'layer2',
 ) {
 
   require network::bond::setup
diff --git a/spec/defines/bond/debian_spec.rb b/spec/defines/bond/debian_spec.rb
index ab5dd8f5..4259a483 100644
--- a/spec/defines/bond/debian_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/defines/bond/debian_spec.rb
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
         'slaves'    => %w[eth0 eth1],
 
         'mode'             => 'active-backup',
-        'miimon'           => '100',
-        'downdelay'        => '200',
-        'updelay'          => '200',
+        'miimon'           => 100,
+        'downdelay'        => 200,
+        'updelay'          => 200,
         'lacp_rate'        => 'slow',
         'primary'          => 'eth0',
         'primary_reselect' => 'always',
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@
                                                           'options'        => {
                                                             'bond-slaves'           => 'eth0 eth1',
                                                             'bond-mode'             => 'active-backup',
-                                                            'bond-miimon'           => '100',
-                                                            'bond-downdelay'        => '200',
-                                                            'bond-updelay'          => '200',
+                                                            'bond-miimon'           => 100,
+                                                            'bond-downdelay'        => 200,
+                                                            'bond-updelay'          => 200,
                                                             'bond-lacp-rate'        => 'slow',
                                                             'bond-primary'          => 'eth0',
                                                             'bond-primary-reselect' => 'always',
@@ -59,12 +59,12 @@
         'mtu'              => 1550,
         'options'          => { 'bond-future-option' => 'yes' },
         'slave_options'    => { 'slave-future-option' => 'no' },
-        'hotplug'          => 'false',
+        'hotplug'          => false,
 
         'mode'             => 'balance-rr',
-        'miimon'           => '50',
-        'downdelay'        => '100',
-        'updelay'          => '100',
+        'miimon'           => 50,
+        'downdelay'        => 100,
+        'updelay'          => 100,
         'lacp_rate'        => 'fast',
         'xmit_hash_policy' => 'layer3+4'
       }
@@ -85,9 +85,9 @@
                                                           'options'        => {
                                                             'bond-slaves'           => 'eth0 eth1 eth2',
                                                             'bond-mode'             => 'balance-rr',
-                                                            'bond-miimon'           => '50',
-                                                            'bond-downdelay'        => '100',
-                                                            'bond-updelay'          => '100',
+                                                            'bond-miimon'           => 50,
+                                                            'bond-downdelay'        => 100,
+                                                            'bond-updelay'          => 100,
                                                             'bond-lacp-rate'        => 'fast',
                                                             'bond-xmit-hash-policy' => 'layer3+4',
                                                             'bond-future-option'    => 'yes',
diff --git a/spec/defines/bond/redhat_spec.rb b/spec/defines/bond/redhat_spec.rb
index e900f861..654b75b5 100644
--- a/spec/defines/bond/redhat_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/defines/bond/redhat_spec.rb
@@ -13,9 +13,9 @@
         'slaves'    => %w[eth0 eth1],
 
         'mode'             => 'active-backup',
-        'miimon'           => '100',
-        'downdelay'        => '200',
-        'updelay'          => '200',
+        'miimon'           => 100,
+        'downdelay'        => 200,
+        'updelay'          => 200,
         'lacp_rate'        => 'slow',
         'primary'          => 'eth0',
         'primary_reselect' => 'always',
@@ -58,12 +58,12 @@
         'mtu'              => '1550',
         'options'          => { 'NM_CONTROLLED' => 'yes' },
         'slave_options'    => { 'NM_CONTROLLED' => 'no' },
-        'hotplug'          => 'false',
+        'hotplug'          => false,
 
         'mode'             => 'balance-rr',
-        'miimon'           => '50',
-        'downdelay'        => '100',
-        'updelay'          => '100',
+        'miimon'           => 50,
+        'downdelay'        => 100,
+        'updelay'          => 100,
         'lacp_rate'        => 'fast',
         'xmit_hash_policy' => 'layer3+4'
       }
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@
                                                           'ipaddress' => '10.20.2.1',
                                                           'netmask'   => '255.255.255.192',
                                                           'hotplug'   => false,
-                                                          'mtu'       => '1550',
+                                                          'mtu'       => 1550,
                                                           'options'   => {
                                                             'BONDING_OPTS'  => 'mode=balance-rr miimon=50 downdelay=100 updelay=100 lacp_rate=fast xmit_hash_policy=layer3+4',
                                                             'NM_CONTROLLED' => 'yes'
diff --git a/spec/defines/bond_spec.rb b/spec/defines/bond_spec.rb
index 410bfba3..d30ba872 100644
--- a/spec/defines/bond_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/defines/bond_spec.rb
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@
       'slave_options'    => { 'NM_CONTROLLED' => 'no' },
 
       'mode'             => 'active-backup',
-      'miimon'           => '100',
-      'downdelay'        => '200',
-      'updelay'          => '200',
+      'miimon'           => 100,
+      'downdelay'        => 200,
+      'updelay'          => 200,
       'lacp_rate'        => 'slow',
       'primary'          => 'eth0',
       'primary_reselect' => 'always',
diff --git a/spec/unit/provider/network_config/interfaces_spec.rb b/spec/unit/provider/network_config/interfaces_spec.rb
index c298379a..43ac496b 100644
--- a/spec/unit/provider/network_config/interfaces_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/provider/network_config/interfaces_spec.rb
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
                                                          ipaddress: '192.168.0.2',
                                                          netmask: '255.255.255.0',
                                                          onboot: true,
-                                                         mtu: '1500',
+                                                         mtu: 1500,
                                                          options: {
                                                            'broadcast' => '192.168.0.255',
                                                            'gateway'   => '192.168.0.1'
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
                                                          ipaddress: '192.168.0.2',
                                                          netmask: '255.255.255.0',
                                                          onboot: true,
-                                                         mtu: '1500',
+                                                         mtu: 1500,
                                                          options: {
                                                            'broadcast' => '192.168.0.255',
                                                            'gateway'   => '192.168.0.1'
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
                                                            ipaddress: '172.16.0.2',
                                                            netmask: '255.255.255.0',
                                                            onboot: true,
-                                                           mtu: '1500',
+                                                           mtu: 1500,
                                                            mode: :vlan,
                                                            options: {
                                                              'broadcast'       => '172.16.0.255',
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
            method: 'static',
            ipaddress: '169.254.0.1',
            netmask: '255.255.0.0',
-           mtu: '1500',
+           mtu: 1500,
            mode: nil,
            options: nil)
     end
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
            method: 'static',
            ipaddress: '169.254.0.1',
            netmask: '255.255.0.0',
-           mtu: '1500',
+           mtu: 1500,
            mode: :vlan,
            options: {
              'vlan-raw-device' => 'eth1'
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
            method: 'static',
            ipaddress: '169.254.0.1',
            netmask: '255.255.0.0',
-           mtu: '576',
+           mtu: 576,
            mode: nil,
            options: {
              'pre-up'    => '/bin/touch /tmp/eth1-up',
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
            method: 'loopback',
            ipaddress: nil,
            netmask: nil,
-           mtu: '65536',
+           mtu: 65_536,
            mode: nil,
            options: nil)
     end
diff --git a/spec/unit/provider/network_config/redhat_spec.rb b/spec/unit/provider/network_config/redhat_spec.rb
index 51a48e8a..70907dac 100644
--- a/spec/unit/provider/network_config/redhat_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/provider/network_config/redhat_spec.rb
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
            method: 'none',
            ipaddress: '169.254.0.1',
            netmask: '255.255.255.0',
-           mtu: '1500',
+           mtu: 1500,
            mode: :vlan,
            options: { 'NM_CONTROLLED' => 'no', 'USERCTL' => 'no' })
     end
@@ -460,7 +460,7 @@ def fixture_data(file)
            ipaddress: '172.20.1.9',
            netmask: '255.255.255.0',
            method: 'static',
-           mtu: '1500',
+           mtu: 1500,
            mode: nil,
            options: {
              'BONDING_OPTS' => %(mode=4 miimon=100 xmit_hash_policy=layer3+4)
diff --git a/spec/unit/type/network_config_spec.rb b/spec/unit/type/network_config_spec.rb
index f050ca08..02e4e1f1 100644
--- a/spec/unit/type/network_config_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/type/network_config_spec.rb
@@ -140,26 +140,14 @@
     end
 
     describe 'mtu' do
-      it 'validates a tiny mtu size' do
-        Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '42')
-      end
-
       it 'validates a tiny mtu size as a number' do
         Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 42)
       end
 
-      it 'validates a normal mtu size' do
-        Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '1500')
-      end
-
       it 'validates a normal mtu size as a number' do
         Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 1500)
       end
 
-      it 'validates a large mtu size' do
-        Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '16384')
-      end
-
       it 'validates a large mtu size as a number' do
         Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 16_384)
       end
@@ -170,63 +158,39 @@
         end.to raise_error(%r{must be a positive integer})
       end
 
-      it 'fails on values < 42' do
-        expect do
-          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '41')
-        end.to raise_error(%r{is not in the valid mtu range})
-      end
-
       it 'fails on numeric values < 42' do
         expect do
           Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 41)
         end.to raise_error(%r{is not in the valid mtu range})
       end
 
-      it 'fails on zero' do
-        expect do
-          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '0')
-        end.to raise_error(%r{is not in the valid mtu range})
-      end
-
       it 'fails on numeric zero' do
         expect do
           Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 0)
         end.to raise_error(%r{is not in the valid mtu range})
       end
 
-      it 'fails on values > 65536' do
-        expect do
-          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '65537')
-        end.to raise_error(%r{is not in the valid mtu range})
-      end
-
       it 'fails on numeric values > 65536' do
         expect do
           Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 65_537)
         end.to raise_error(%r{is not in the valid mtu range})
       end
 
-      it 'fails on negative values' do
-        expect do
-          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '-1500')
-        end.to raise_error(%r{is not a valid mtu})
-      end
-
       it 'fails on negative numbers' do
         expect do
           Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: -1500)
         end.to raise_error(%r{is not in the valid mtu range})
       end
 
-      it 'fails on non-integer values' do
+      it 'fails on numeric non-integer values' do
         expect do
-          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '1500.1')
+          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 1500.1)
         end.to raise_error(%r{must be a positive integer})
       end
 
-      it 'fails on numeric non-integer values' do
+      it 'fails on integers passed as strings' do
         expect do
-          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: 1500.1)
+          Puppet::Type.type(:network_config).new(name: 'yay', mtu: '1500.1')
         end.to raise_error(%r{must be a positive integer})
       end
     end
diff --git a/templates/bond/opts-redhat.erb b/templates/bond/opts-redhat.erb
index 37fd1f8a..d6460e6c 100644
--- a/templates/bond/opts-redhat.erb
+++ b/templates/bond/opts-redhat.erb
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-<%= %w[mode miimon downdelay updelay lacp_rate primary primary_reselect xmit_hash_policy].reject {
-  |option| scope.lookupvar(option).nil? || scope.lookupvar(option) == :undef || scope.lookupvar(option) == :absent || scope.lookupvar(option).empty? }.map {
-    |key| "#{key}=#{scope.lookupvar(key)}"
-  }.join(' ') -%>
+<%= %w[mode miimon downdelay updelay lacp_rate primary primary_reselect xmit_hash_policy].reject { |option|
+  v = scope.lookupvar(option)
+  v.nil? || v == :undef || v == :absent || ( (v === Enumerable || v.is_a?(String) ) && v.empty?)
+}.map { |key|
+  "#{key}=#{scope.lookupvar(key)}"
+}.join(' ') -%>
diff --git a/types/mtu.pp b/types/mtu.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..73887cbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/types/mtu.pp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+type Network::MTU = Network::PositiveInteger
diff --git a/types/positiveinteger.pp b/types/positiveinteger.pp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bc5e27ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/types/positiveinteger.pp
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+type Network::PositiveInteger = Integer[1,default]