diff --git a/client.c b/client.c
index d1bd7a64..6f054732 100644
--- a/client.c
+++ b/client.c
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ client_signal(int sig, unused short events, unused void *data)
 void
 client_callback(unused int fd, short events, unused void *data)
 {
-	int	n;
+	ssize_t	n;
 
 	if (events & EV_READ) {
 		if ((n = imsg_read(&client_ibuf)) == -1 || n == 0)