diff --git a/src/stuff.c b/src/stuff.c
index 9a72d3351a570a43474cb8bf19b36c0772debd1c..f86fd052a6c3b1015f4ebaa14c8fc0db6551a710 100644
--- a/src/stuff.c
+++ b/src/stuff.c
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ INT32 hashprimes[32] =
 
 int my_log2(unsigned INT32 x)
 {
-  static char bit[256] =
+  static signed char bit[256] =
   {
     -1, 0, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 
      4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4,