diff --git a/features/patroni_api.feature b/features/patroni_api.feature
index 0c47fe6e..624d3271 100644
--- a/features/patroni_api.feature
+++ b/features/patroni_api.feature
@@ -35,21 +35,21 @@ Scenario: check local configuration reload
 	Then I receive a response code 202
 
 Scenario: check dynamic configuration change via DCS
-	Given I run patronictl.py edit-config -s 'ttl=10' -p 'max_connections=101' --force batman
-	Then I receive a response returncode 0
-	And I receive a response output "+ttl: 10"
+	Given I issue a PATCH request to http://127.0.0.1:8008/config with {"ttl": 20, "postgresql": {"parameters": {"max_connections": "101"}}}
+	Then I receive a response code 200
 	And Response on GET http://127.0.0.1:8008/patroni contains pending_restart after 11 seconds
 	When I issue a GET request to http://127.0.0.1:8008/config
 	Then I receive a response code 200
-	And I receive a response ttl 10
+	And I receive a response ttl 20
 	When I issue a GET request to http://127.0.0.1:8008/patroni
 	Then I receive a response code 200
 	And I receive a response tags {'new_tag': 'new_value'}
 	And I sleep for 4 seconds
 
 Scenario: check the scheduled restart
-	Given I issue a PATCH request to http://127.0.0.1:8008/config with {"postgresql": {"parameters": {"superuser_reserved_connections": "6"}}}
-	Then I receive a response code 200
+	Given I run patronictl.py edit-config -p 'superuser_reserved_connections=6' --force batman
+	Then I receive a response returncode 0
+	And I receive a response output "+    superuser_reserved_connections: 6"
 	And Response on GET http://127.0.0.1:8008/patroni contains pending_restart after 5 seconds
 	Given I issue a scheduled restart at http://127.0.0.1:8008 in 5 seconds with {"role": "replica"}
 	Then I receive a response code 202
diff --git a/patroni/utils.py b/patroni/utils.py
index eb02c561..ee9a3d21 100644
--- a/patroni/utils.py
+++ b/patroni/utils.py
@@ -326,6 +326,21 @@ def parse_int(value: Any, base_unit: Optional[str] = None) -> Optional[int]:
         >>> parse_int('1TB', 'GB') is None
         True
 
+        >>> parse_int(50, None) == 50
+        True
+
+        >>> parse_int("51", None) == 51
+        True
+
+        >>> parse_int("nonsense", None) == None
+        True
+
+        >>> parse_int("nonsense", "kB") == None
+        True
+
+        >>> parse_int("nonsense") == None
+        True
+
         >>> parse_int(0) == 0
         True
 
diff --git a/patroni/validator.py b/patroni/validator.py
index f780f9e0..fc6cdde5 100644
--- a/patroni/validator.py
+++ b/patroni/validator.py
@@ -792,8 +792,7 @@ class IntValidator(object):
         :param value: value to be checked against the rules defined for this :class:`IntValidator` instance.
         :returns: ``True`` if *value* is valid and within the expected range.
         """
-        if self.base_unit:
-            value = parse_int(value, self.base_unit) or ""
+        value = parse_int(value, self.base_unit) or ""
         ret = isinstance(value, int)\
             and (self.min is None or value >= self.min)\
             and (self.max is None or value <= self.max)