diff --git a/include/wincurs.h b/include/wincurs.h
index e18863b36..ce29d51a6 100644
--- a/include/wincurs.h
+++ b/include/wincurs.h
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ extern void curses_posthousekeeping(void);
 extern void curses_view_file(const char *filename, boolean must_exist);
 extern void curses_rtrim(char *str);
 extern long curses_get_count(int first_digit);
-extern int curses_convert_attr(int attr);
+extern attr_t curses_convert_attr(int attr);
 extern int curses_read_attrs(const char *attrs);
 extern char *curses_fmt_attrs(char *);
 extern int curses_convert_keys(int key);
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmisc.c b/win/curses/cursmisc.c
index 3f724f83b..6eb337eb2 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmisc.c
+++ b/win/curses/cursmisc.c
@@ -729,10 +729,10 @@ curses_get_count(int first_digit)
 /* Convert the given NetHack text attributes into the format curses
    understands, and return that format mask. */
 
-int
+attr_t
 curses_convert_attr(int attr)
 {
-    int curses_attr;
+    attr_t curses_attr;
 
     /* first, strip off control flags masked onto the display attributes
        (caller should have already done this...) */
diff --git a/win/curses/cursmisc.h b/win/curses/cursmisc.h
index 459decb4a..76dd0ffcc 100644
--- a/win/curses/cursmisc.h
+++ b/win/curses/cursmisc.h
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void curses_posthousekeeping(void);
 void curses_view_file(const char *filename, boolean must_exist);
 void curses_rtrim(char *str);
 long curses_get_count(int first_digit);
-int curses_convert_attr(int attr);
+attr_t curses_convert_attr(int attr);
 int curses_read_attrs(const char *attrs);
 char *curses_fmt_attrs(char *);
 int curses_convert_keys(int key);