diff --git a/src/synth/fluid_synth.c b/src/synth/fluid_synth.c
index 55b23e45..f108c869 100644
--- a/src/synth/fluid_synth.c
+++ b/src/synth/fluid_synth.c
@@ -515,8 +515,6 @@ new_fluid_synth(fluid_settings_t *settings)
 {
   fluid_synth_t* synth;
   fluid_sfloader_t* loader;
-  double gain;
-  double num_val;
   int i, nbuf;
   int with_ladspa = 0;
   
@@ -569,21 +567,15 @@ new_fluid_synth(fluid_settings_t *settings)
   fluid_settings_getint(settings, "synth.audio-channels", &synth->audio_channels);
   fluid_settings_getint(settings, "synth.audio-groups", &synth->audio_groups);
   fluid_settings_getint(settings, "synth.effects-channels", &synth->effects_channels);
-  fluid_settings_getnum(settings, "synth.gain", &gain);
-  synth->gain = gain;
+  fluid_settings_getnum_float(settings, "synth.gain", &synth->gain);
   fluid_settings_getint(settings, "synth.device-id", &synth->device_id);
   fluid_settings_getint(settings, "synth.cpu-cores", &synth->cores);
 
-  fluid_settings_getnum(settings, "synth.overflow.percussion", &num_val);
-  synth->overflow.percussion = num_val;
-  fluid_settings_getnum(settings, "synth.overflow.released", &num_val);
-  synth->overflow.released = num_val;
-  fluid_settings_getnum(settings, "synth.overflow.sustained", &num_val);
-  synth->overflow.sustained = num_val;
-  fluid_settings_getnum(settings, "synth.overflow.volume", &num_val);
-  synth->overflow.volume = num_val;
-  fluid_settings_getnum(settings, "synth.overflow.age", &num_val);
-  synth->overflow.age = num_val;
+  fluid_settings_getnum_float(settings, "synth.overflow.percussion", &synth->overflow.percussion);
+  fluid_settings_getnum_float(settings, "synth.overflow.released", &synth->overflow.released);
+  fluid_settings_getnum_float(settings, "synth.overflow.sustained", &synth->overflow.sustained);
+  fluid_settings_getnum_float(settings, "synth.overflow.volume", &synth->overflow.volume);
+  fluid_settings_getnum_float(settings, "synth.overflow.age", &synth->overflow.age);
 
   /* register the callbacks */
   fluid_settings_callback_num(settings, "synth.sample-rate",
diff --git a/src/utils/fluid_settings.c b/src/utils/fluid_settings.c
index 72a096c1..63d34a13 100644
--- a/src/utils/fluid_settings.c
+++ b/src/utils/fluid_settings.c
@@ -1249,6 +1249,27 @@ fluid_settings_getnum(fluid_settings_t* settings, const char *name, double* val)
   return retval;
 }
 
+/**
+ * float-typed wrapper for fluid_settings_getnum
+ *
+ * @param settings a settings object
+ * @param name a setting's name
+ * @param val variable pointer to receive the setting's float value
+ * @return #FLUID_OK if the value exists, #FLUID_FAILED otherwise
+ */
+int fluid_settings_getnum_float(fluid_settings_t *settings, const char *name, float *val)
+{
+    double tmp;
+
+    if (fluid_settings_getnum(settings, name, &tmp) == FLUID_OK)
+    {
+        *val = tmp;
+        return FLUID_OK;
+    }
+
+    return FLUID_FAILED;
+}
+
 /**
  * Get the range of values of a numeric setting
  *
diff --git a/src/utils/fluid_settings.h b/src/utils/fluid_settings.h
index 65f23280..6eef5896 100644
--- a/src/utils/fluid_settings.h
+++ b/src/utils/fluid_settings.h
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ int fluid_settings_register_num(fluid_settings_t* settings, const char* name, do
 int fluid_settings_callback_num(fluid_settings_t* settings, const char* name,
                                 fluid_num_update_t fun, void* data);
 
+/* Type specific wrapper for fluid_settings_getnum */
+int fluid_settings_getnum_float(fluid_settings_t *settings, const char *name, float *val);
+
 
 typedef void (*fluid_int_update_t)(void* data, const char* name, int value);
 int fluid_settings_register_int(fluid_settings_t* settings, const char* name, int def,