diff --git a/miniz_tdef.c b/miniz_tdef.c
index 4477b51..b7ea63a 100644
--- a/miniz_tdef.c
+++ b/miniz_tdef.c
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ static mz_bool tdefl_compress_lz_codes(tdefl_compressor *d)
         {
             mz_uint s0, s1, n0, n1, sym, num_extra_bits;
             mz_uint match_len = pLZ_codes[0];
-            match_dist = (pLZ_codes[1] | (pLZ_codes[2] << 8));
+            mz_uint match_dist = (pLZ_codes[1] | (pLZ_codes[2] << 8));
             pLZ_codes += 3;
 
             MZ_ASSERT(d->m_huff_code_sizes[0][s_tdefl_len_sym[match_len]]);