diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
index c0e0201a5d..4e7106558c 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/selector.py
@@ -387,7 +387,30 @@ def set_element_value(
 
             if isinstance(key, str) and hasattr(element, key):
                 if getattr(element, key) != value:
-                    return setattr(element, key, value)
+                    try:
+                        # Try our luck
+                        return setattr(element, key, value)
+                    except:
+                        # Try to cast
+                        data_type = ifcopenshell.util.attribute.get_primitive_type(
+                            element.wrapped_data.declaration()
+                            .as_entity()
+                            .attribute_by_index(element.wrapped_data.get_argument_index(key))
+                        )
+                        if data_type == "string":
+                            value = str(value)
+                        elif data_type == "float":
+                            value = float(value)
+                        elif data_type == "integer":
+                            value = int(value)
+                        elif data_type == "boolean":
+                            if value in ("True", "true", "TRUE", "Yes", "1"):
+                                value = True
+                            elif value in ("False", "false", "FALSE", "No", "0"):
+                                value = True
+                            else:
+                                value = bool(value)
+                        return setattr(element, key, value)
             else:
                 # Try to extract pset
                 if isinstance(key, re.Pattern):
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py
index 9a5f9cadce..7e37506ac1 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_selector.py
@@ -292,6 +292,13 @@ class TestSetElementValue(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
             ifcopenshell.util.placement.get_local_placement(element_without_placement.ObjectPlacement), matrix
         )
 
+    def test_set_attribute(self):
+        element = self.file.createIfcWall()
+        subject.set_element_value(self.file, element, "Name", "Foo")
+        assert element.Name == "Foo"
+        subject.set_element_value(self.file, element, "Name", 123)
+        assert element.Name == "123"
+
 
 class TestSelector(test.bootstrap.IFC4):
     def test_selecting_from_specified_elements(self):