diff --git a/src/unix/fs.c b/src/unix/fs.c
index da7f41bf..26e7afbc 100644
--- a/src/unix/fs.c
+++ b/src/unix/fs.c
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ int uv_fs_symlink(uv_loop_t* loop, uv_fs_t* req, const char* path,
 
 int uv_fs_readlink(uv_loop_t* loop, uv_fs_t* req, const char* path,
     uv_fs_cb cb) {
-  size_t size;
+  ssize_t size;
   int status;
   char* buf;