Weird situation on template condition

[Replicant]

Ok guys, Here's the deal. I'm doing a simple if condition

<vb:if condition="$channelid == $url.channelid">

....do something

Here's the problem, I can't get the two to equal each other. See the screen of the var_dump.

{vb:debugvardump $channelid} = string(2) 36
{vb:debugvardump $url.channelid} = string(2) 36

<vb:if condition="$.urlchannelid == 36"> FALSE

<vb:if condition="$channelid == 36">TRUE

So obviously, there is an issue with $url.channelid.
I tried this
{vb:set url.channelid, '36'}, still nothing. I'm at a loss here because the two values are equal.