diff --git a/include/wintype.h b/include/wintype.h
index 095c1aa60..6bf49aabb 100644
--- a/include/wintype.h
+++ b/include/wintype.h
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ enum any_types {
     ANY_ULPTR,       /* pointer to unsigned long */
     ANY_STR,         /* pointer to null-terminated char string */
     ANY_NFUNC,       /* pointer to function taking no args, returning int */
-    ANY_MASK32       /* 32-bit mask (stored as unsigned long) */
+    ANY_MASK32,      /* 32-bit mask (stored as unsigned long) */
+
+    ANY_INVALID      /* leave this last */
 };
 
 /* menu return list */
diff --git a/src/botl.c b/src/botl.c
index 51e9fdcd3..b8a24c780 100644
--- a/src/botl.c
+++ b/src/botl.c
@@ -2562,7 +2562,7 @@ parse_status_hl2(char (*s)[QBUFSZ], boolean from_configfile)
         "Satiated", "", "Hungry", "Weak", "Fainting", "Fainted", "Starved"
     };
     char *tmp, *how;
-    int sidx = 0, i = -1, dt = -1;
+    int sidx = 0, i = -1, dt = ANY_INVALID;
     int coloridx = -1, successes = 0;
     int disp_attrib = 0;
     boolean percent, changed, numeric, down, up,
@@ -2830,7 +2830,6 @@ parse_status_hl2(char (*s)[QBUFSZ], boolean from_configfile)
         else
             hilite.behavior = BL_TH_NONE;
 
-        /* assert(dt >= 0); */
         hilite.anytype = dt;
 
         if (hilite.behavior == BL_TH_TEXTMATCH && txt) {