diff --git a/py/execnet/serializer.py b/py/execnet/serializer.py
index 902c33c37..710597139 100755
--- a/py/execnet/serializer.py
+++ b/py/execnet/serializer.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ else:
 FOUR_BYTE_INT_MAX = 2147483647
 
 _int4_format = struct.Struct("!i")
+_float_format = struct.Struct("!d")
 
 # Protocol constants
 VERSION_NUMBER = 1
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ BUILDTUPLE = b('T')
 SETITEM = b('m')
 NEWDICT = b('d')
 INT = b('i')
+FLOAT = b('f')
 STOP = b('S')
 
 class CrossVersionOptions(object):
@@ -108,6 +110,11 @@ class Serializer(object):
         self._write_int4(i)
     dispatch[int] = save_int
 
+    def save_float(self, flt):
+        self.stream.write(FLOAT)
+        self.stream.write(_float_format.pack(flt))
+    dispatch[float] = save_float
+
     def _write_int4(self, i, error="int must be less than %i" %
                     (FOUR_BYTE_INT_MAX,)):
         if i > FOUR_BYTE_INT_MAX:
@@ -196,6 +203,11 @@ class Unserializer(object):
         self.stack.append(i)
     opcodes[INT] = load_int
 
+    def load_float(self):
+        binary = self.stream.read(_float_format.size)
+        self.stack.append(_float_format.unpack(binary)[0])
+    opcodes[FLOAT] = load_float
+
     def _read_int4(self):
         return _int4_format.unpack(self.stream.read(4))[0]
 
diff --git a/testing/execnet/test_serializer.py b/testing/execnet/test_serializer.py
index 650bc43ef..4b94ef225 100755
--- a/testing/execnet/test_serializer.py
+++ b/testing/execnet/test_serializer.py
@@ -94,6 +94,14 @@ class TestSerializer:
                        serializer.Serializer(py.io.BytesIO()).save,
                        123456678900)
 
+    def test_float(self, py2, py3):
+        for dump in py2.dump, py3.dump:
+            p = dump(3.25)
+            for load in py2.load, py3.load:
+                tp, v = load(p)
+                assert tp == "float"
+                assert v == "3.25"
+
     def test_bytes(self, py2, py3):
         p = py3.dump("b'hi'")
         tp, v = py2.load(p)