diff --git a/scsh/encryption/blowfish.scm b/scsh/encryption/blowfish.scm
index 46c8152..ab4e56a 100644
--- a/scsh/encryption/blowfish.scm
+++ b/scsh/encryption/blowfish.scm
@@ -1071,13 +1071,15 @@
   (let ((colornumber 0))
     (do ((i (- (string-length sy) 1) (- i 1)))
 	((< i 0) (- colornumber 1))
-      (let ((c (string-ref (string sy) i)))
+      (let ((c (string-ref (if (number? sy)
+                               (number->string sy)
+                               (symbol->string sy)) i)))
         (let ((n (cond ((or (eq? c #\a)(eq? c #\A))
-		       10)
-		      ((or (eq? c #\b)(eq? c #\B))
-		       11)
-		      ((or (eq? c #\c)(eq? c #\C))
-		       12)
+                        10)
+                       ((or (eq? c #\b)(eq? c #\B))
+                        11)
+                       ((or (eq? c #\c)(eq? c #\C))
+                        12)
 		      ((or (eq? c #\d)(eq? c #\D))
 		       13)
 		      ((or (eq? c #\e)(eq? c #\E))
@@ -1085,7 +1087,7 @@
 		      ((or (eq? c #\f)(eq? c #\F))
 		       15)
 		      (else (string->number (string c))))))
-	(set! colornumber (+ (* (+ n 1) 16 i) colornumber)))))))
+          (set! colornumber (+ (* (+ n 1) 16 i) colornumber)))))))
 
 
 (define :blowfish-record