diff --git a/autohmm/ar.py b/autohmm/ar.py
index b4a9106..52bd20c 100644
--- a/autohmm/ar.py
+++ b/autohmm/ar.py
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ def sample(self, n_samples=2000, observed_states=None,
 
 
         samples = np.zeros((n_samples, self.n_features))
-        states = np.zeros(n_samples)
+        states = np.zeros(n_samples, dtype=int)
 
         order = self.n_lags