diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_video.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_video.py
index 708c874fc3..b935acfb57 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_video.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/test_video.py
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ class VideoModuleTest(LogicTest):
         output = VideoDescriptor._parse_time('00:04:07')
         self.assertEqual(output, expected)
 
+    def test_parse_time_with_float(self):
+        """Ensure that times are parsed correctly into seconds."""
+        expected = 247
+        output = VideoDescriptor._parse_time('247.0')
+        self.assertEqual(output, expected)
+
     def test_parse_youtube(self):
         """Test parsing old-style Youtube ID strings into a dict."""
         youtube_str = '0.75:jNCf2gIqpeE,1.00:ZwkTiUPN0mg,1.25:rsq9auxASqI,1.50:kMyNdzVHHgg'
@@ -412,6 +418,35 @@ class VideoDescriptorImportTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
             'data': ''
         })
 
+    def test_import_with_float_times(self):
+        """
+        Ensure that Video is able to read VideoModule's model data.
+        """
+        module_system = DummySystem(load_error_modules=True)
+        xml_data = """
+            <video display_name="Test Video"
+                   youtube="1.0:p2Q6BrNhdh8,0.75:izygArpw-Qo,1.25:1EeWXzPdhSA,1.5:rABDYkeK0x8"
+                   show_captions="false"
+                   from="1.0"
+                   to="60.0">
+              <source src="http://www.example.com/source.mp4"/>
+              <track src="http://www.example.com/track"/>
+            </video>
+        """
+        video = VideoDescriptor.from_xml(xml_data, module_system)
+        self.assert_attributes_equal(video, {
+            'youtube_id_0_75': 'izygArpw-Qo',
+            'youtube_id_1_0': 'p2Q6BrNhdh8',
+            'youtube_id_1_25': '1EeWXzPdhSA',
+            'youtube_id_1_5': 'rABDYkeK0x8',
+            'show_captions': False,
+            'start_time': 1.0,
+            'end_time': 60.0,
+            'track': 'http://www.example.com/track',
+            'html5_sources': ['http://www.example.com/source.mp4'],
+            'data': ''
+        })
+
 
 class VideoExportTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
     """
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py
index 10ab6e816c..984404ef8c 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/video_module.py
@@ -385,12 +385,16 @@ class VideoDescriptor(VideoFields, TabsEditingDescriptor, EmptyDataRawDescriptor
         if not str_time:
             return ''
         else:
-            obj_time = time.strptime(str_time, '%H:%M:%S')
-            return datetime.timedelta(
-                hours=obj_time.tm_hour,
-                minutes=obj_time.tm_min,
-                seconds=obj_time.tm_sec
-            ).total_seconds()
+            try:
+                obj_time = time.strptime(str_time, '%H:%M:%S')
+                return datetime.timedelta(
+                    hours=obj_time.tm_hour,
+                    minutes=obj_time.tm_min,
+                    seconds=obj_time.tm_sec
+                ).total_seconds()
+            except ValueError:
+                # We've seen serialized versions of float in this field
+                return float(str_time)
 
 
 def _create_youtube_string(module):
diff --git a/common/test/data/toy/vertical/vertical_test.xml b/common/test/data/toy/vertical/vertical_test.xml
index 68c5745f37..bcc2fc6434 100644
--- a/common/test/data/toy/vertical/vertical_test.xml
+++ b/common/test/data/toy/vertical/vertical_test.xml
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <sequential>
         <video display_name="default" youtube_id_0_75="JMD_ifUUfsU" youtube_id_1_0="OEoXaMPEzfM" youtube_id_1_25="AKqURZnYqpk" youtube_id_1_5="DYpADpL7jAY" name="sample_video"/>
         <video url_name="separate_file_video"/>
+        <video url_name="video_with_end_time"/>
         <poll_question name="T1_changemind_poll_foo_2" display_name="Change your answer" reset="false">
         <p>Have you changed your mind?</p>
         <answer id="yes">Yes</answer>
diff --git a/common/test/data/toy/video/video_with_end_time.xml b/common/test/data/toy/video/video_with_end_time.xml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3d58af4a22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/test/data/toy/video/video_with_end_time.xml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<video display_name="default" youtube_id_0_75="JMD_ifUUfsU" youtube_id_1_0="OEoXaMPEzfM" youtube_id_1_25="AKqURZnYqpk" youtube_id_1_5="DYpADpL7jAY" name="sample_video" end_time="10.0"/>