diff --git a/mongoengine/base.py b/mongoengine/base.py
index 1d4e2d39..22a2b5af 100644
--- a/mongoengine/base.py
+++ b/mongoengine/base.py
@@ -1207,7 +1207,7 @@ class BaseDocument(object):
                 for p in parts:
                     if isinstance(d, DBRef):
                         break
-                    elif p.isdigit():
+                    elif isinstance(d, list) and p.isdigit():
                         d = d[int(p)]
                     elif hasattr(d, 'get'):
                         d = d.get(p)
@@ -1238,7 +1238,7 @@ class BaseDocument(object):
                 parts = path.split('.')
                 db_field_name = parts.pop()
                 for p in parts:
-                    if p.isdigit():
+                    if isinstance(d, list) and p.isdigit():
                         d = d[int(p)]
                     elif (hasattr(d, '__getattribute__') and
                           not isinstance(d, dict)):
diff --git a/tests/test_fields.py b/tests/test_fields.py
index 28af1b23..47669007 100644
--- a/tests/test_fields.py
+++ b/tests/test_fields.py
@@ -965,6 +965,24 @@ class FieldTest(unittest.TestCase):
         doc = self.db.test.find_one()
         self.assertEqual(doc['x']['DICTIONARY_KEY']['i'], 2)
 
+    def test_mapfield_numerical_index(self):
+        """Ensure that MapField accept numeric strings as indexes."""
+        class Embedded(EmbeddedDocument):
+            name = StringField()
+
+        class Test(Document):
+            my_map = MapField(EmbeddedDocumentField(Embedded))
+
+        Test.drop_collection()
+
+        test = Test()
+        test.my_map['1'] = Embedded(name='test')
+        test.save()
+        test.my_map['1'].name = 'test updated'
+        test.save()
+
+        Test.drop_collection()
+
     def test_map_field_lookup(self):
         """Ensure MapField lookups succeed on Fields without a lookup method"""