diff --git a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py
index d933eaef..0109e371 100644
--- a/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py
+++ b/scikits/image/io/_plugins/freeimage_plugin.py
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ def imread(filename, as_grey=False):
     if as_grey and len(img) == 3:
         # these are the values that wikipedia says are typical
         transform = numpy.array([ 0.30,  0.59,  0.11])
-        return numpy.dot(img, transform)
+        return numpy.dot(img, transform).astype('uint8')
     return img
 
 def imsave(filename, img):