diff --git a/gunicorn/config.py b/gunicorn/config.py
index 39ab6786..f5cebcff 100644
--- a/gunicorn/config.py
+++ b/gunicorn/config.py
@@ -102,6 +102,16 @@ class Config(object):
             raise RuntimeError("Listener address is not set")
         return util.parse_address(util.to_bytestring(self.conf['bind']))
         
+    @property
+    def umask(self):
+        if not self.conf['umask']:
+            return 0
+        umask = self.conf['umask']
+        if isinstance(umask, basestring):
+            return int(umask, 0)
+        return umask
+        
+        
     def _hook(self, hookname, *args):
         hook = self.conf.get(hookname)
         if not hook: return
diff --git a/gunicorn/main.py b/gunicorn/main.py
index b07de48c..0f11dec4 100644
--- a/gunicorn/main.py
+++ b/gunicorn/main.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ def daemonize(umask):
         if os.fork() == 0: 
             os.setsid()
             if os.fork() == 0:
-                os.umask(int(umask, 0)) 
+                os.umask(umask) 
             else:
                 os._exit(0)
         else:
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ def main(usage, get_app):
     if conf['daemon']:
         daemonize(conf['umask'])
     else:
-        os.umask(int(conf['umask'], 0))
+        os.umask(conf['umask'])
         os.setpgrp()
     set_owner_process(conf['user'], conf['group']) 
     configure_logging(conf)
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ def paste_server(app, global_conf=None, host="127.0.0.1", port=None,
     if conf["daemon"] :
         daemonize(conf["umask"])
     else:
-        os.umask(int(conf['umask'], 0))
+        os.umask(conf['umask'])
         os.setpgrp()
     set_owner_process(conf["user"], conf["group"])
     configure_logging(conf)
diff --git a/gunicorn/management/commands/run_gunicorn.py b/gunicorn/management/commands/run_gunicorn.py
index f52ed4af..912887ed 100644
--- a/gunicorn/management/commands/run_gunicorn.py
+++ b/gunicorn/management/commands/run_gunicorn.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             if conf['daemon']:
                 daemonize(conf['umask'])
             else:
-                os.umask(int(conf['umask'], 0))
+                os.umask(conf['umask'])
                 os.setpgrp()
             set_owner_process(conf["user"], conf["group"])
             configure_logging(conf)