diff --git a/airtime_mvc/application/models/Scheduler.php b/airtime_mvc/application/models/Scheduler.php
index 47387fca0..3d8eb1185 100644
--- a/airtime_mvc/application/models/Scheduler.php
+++ b/airtime_mvc/application/models/Scheduler.php
@@ -858,8 +858,14 @@ final class Application_Model_Scheduler
 
                         // default fades are in seconds
                         // we need to convert to '00:00:00' format
-                        $file['fadein'] = Application_Common_DateHelper::secondsToPlaylistTime($file['fadein']);
-                        $file['fadeout'] = Application_Common_DateHelper::secondsToPlaylistTime($file['fadeout']);
+                        // added a check to only run the conversion if they are in seconds format 
+                        // otherwise php > 7.1 throws errors
+                        if (is_numeric($file['fadein'])) {
+                            $file['fadein'] = Application_Common_DateHelper::secondsToPlaylistTime($file['fadein']);
+                        }
+                        if (is_numeric($file['fadeout'])) {
+                            $file['fadeout'] = Application_Common_DateHelper::secondsToPlaylistTime($file['fadeout']);
+                        }
 
                         switch ($file["type"]) {
                             case 0: