diff --git a/pyhive/common.py b/pyhive/common.py
index 99fe55c8..f75950c2 100644
--- a/pyhive/common.py
+++ b/pyhive/common.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 import datetime
 from future.utils import with_metaclass
 from itertools import islice
+from decimal import Decimal
 
 
 class DBAPICursor(with_metaclass(abc.ABCMeta, object)):
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ def escape_datetime(self, item, format, cutoff=0):
     def escape_item(self, item):
         if item is None:
             return 'NULL'
-        elif isinstance(item, (int, float)):
+        elif isinstance(item, (int, float, Decimal)):
             return self.escape_number(item)
         elif isinstance(item, basestring):
             return self.escape_string(item)
diff --git a/pyhive/tests/test_common.py b/pyhive/tests/test_common.py
index 8642610f..99fd0080 100644
--- a/pyhive/tests/test_common.py
+++ b/pyhive/tests/test_common.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 from pyhive import common
 import datetime
 import unittest
+import decimal
 
 
 class TestCommon(unittest.TestCase):
@@ -15,6 +16,8 @@ def test_escape_args(self):
                          {'foo': 123})
         self.assertEqual(escaper.escape_args({'foo': 123.456}),
                          {'foo': 123.456})
+        self.assertEqual(escaper.escape_args({'foo': decimal.Decimal('123.456')}),
+                         {'foo': decimal.Decimal('123.456')})
         self.assertEqual(escaper.escape_args({'foo': ['a', 'b', 'c']}),
                          {'foo': "('a','b','c')"})
         self.assertEqual(escaper.escape_args({'foo': ('a', 'b', 'c')}),