diff --git a/IPython/external/mathjax.py b/IPython/external/mathjax.py
index 37590fe..2e499fe 100644
--- a/IPython/external/mathjax.py
+++ b/IPython/external/mathjax.py
@@ -219,7 +219,6 @@ def main() :
             '--test',
             action='store_true')
     parser.add_argument('tarball',
-            type=int,
             help="the local tar/zip-ball containing mathjax",
             nargs='?',
             metavar='tarball')