diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/value_parser.go b/pkg/yqlib/value_parser.go
index d08da020..0fb515f9 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/value_parser.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/value_parser.go
@@ -18,9 +18,16 @@ func (v *valueParser) ParseValue(argument string) interface{} {
 	var value, err interface{}
 	var inQuotes = len(argument) > 0 && argument[0] == '"'
 	if !inQuotes {
-		value, err = strconv.ParseFloat(argument, 64)
-		if err == nil {
-			return value
+		intValue, intErr := strconv.ParseInt(argument, 10, 64)
+		floatValue, floatErr := strconv.ParseFloat(argument, 64)
+		if intErr == nil && floatErr == nil {
+			if int64(floatValue) == intValue {
+				return intValue
+			}
+			return floatValue
+		} else if floatErr == nil {
+			// In case cannot parse the int due to large precision
+			return floatValue
 		}
 		value, err = strconv.ParseBool(argument)
 		if err == nil {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/value_parser_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/value_parser_test.go
index 2246b398..1533b2be 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/value_parser_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/value_parser_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ var parseValueTests = []struct {
 	{"3.4", 3.4, "number"},
 	{"\"3.4\"", "3.4", "number as string"},
 	{"", "", "empty string"},
+	{"1212121", int64(1212121), "big number"},
 }
 
 func TestParseValue(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/yq_test.go b/yq_test.go
index 05c78a94..2379adb9 100644
--- a/yq_test.go
+++ b/yq_test.go
@@ -35,6 +35,14 @@ func TestNewYamlArray(t *testing.T) {
 		formattedResult)
 }
 
+func TestNewYamlBigInt(t *testing.T) {
+	result, _ := newYaml([]string{"b", "1212121"})
+	formattedResult := fmt.Sprintf("%v", result)
+	test.AssertResult(t,
+		"[{b 1212121}]",
+		formattedResult)
+}
+
 func TestNewYaml_WithScript(t *testing.T) {
 	writeScript = "examples/instruction_sample.yaml"
 	expectedResult := `b: