diff --git a/sys/share/uudecode.c b/sys/share/uudecode.c
index 223b94031..801aba412 100644
--- a/sys/share/uudecode.c
+++ b/sys/share/uudecode.c
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ int
 main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
     FILE *in, *out;
-    int mode;
+    unsigned int mode;
     char dest[128];
     char buf[80];