diff --git a/lib/hostip.c b/lib/hostip.c
index b546f0de2b..5c3a71841e 100644
--- a/lib/hostip.c
+++ b/lib/hostip.c
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ cache_resolv_response(struct SessionHandle *data,
                       int port)
 {
   char *entry_id;
-  int entry_len;
+  ssize_t entry_len;
   struct Curl_dns_entry *dns;
   time_t now;