diff --git a/lib/openapi_contracts/validators/headers.rb b/lib/openapi_contracts/validators/headers.rb
index 0796710..f373f1f 100644
--- a/lib/openapi_contracts/validators/headers.rb
+++ b/lib/openapi_contracts/validators/headers.rb
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ def validate
         if value.blank?
           @errors << "Missing header #{header.name}" if header.required?
         else
+          # Header values arrive as strings; deserialize to the schema's type
+          # (per `style: simple`) before validating, as Doc::Parameter does.
+          value = OpenapiParameters::Converter.convert(value, header.schema)
           schemer = JSONSchemer.schema(header.schema)
           unless schemer.valid?(value)
             validation_errors = schemer.validate(value).to_a
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/openapi/openapi.yaml b/spec/fixtures/openapi/openapi.yaml
index fe1d888..103cc78 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/openapi/openapi.yaml
+++ b/spec/fixtures/openapi/openapi.yaml
@@ -97,6 +97,10 @@ paths:
       responses:
         '200':
           description: Ok
+          headers:
+            x-rate-limit:
+              schema:
+                type: integer
           content:
             application/json:
               schema:
diff --git a/spec/openapi_contracts/validators/headers_spec.rb b/spec/openapi_contracts/validators/headers_spec.rb
index a27c81e..25feadb 100644
--- a/spec/openapi_contracts/validators/headers_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/openapi_contracts/validators/headers_spec.rb
@@ -70,4 +70,26 @@
       end
     end
   end
+
+  context 'with a non-string header type (style: simple)' do
+    include_context 'when using GET /pets'
+
+    context 'when the value parses to the declared type' do
+      before { response_headers['x-rate-limit'] = '300' }
+
+      it 'deserializes the value and has no errors' do
+        expect(subject.call).to be_empty
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when the value does not parse to the declared type' do
+      before { response_headers['x-rate-limit'] = 'not-a-number' }
+
+      it 'returns the error' do
+        expect(subject.call).to eq [
+          'Header x-rate-limit validation error: value at root is not an integer (value: not-a-number)'
+        ]
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end