diff --git a/server/request.c b/server/request.c
index 8865604..083c601 100644
--- a/server/request.c
+++ b/server/request.c
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
 
 
 struct thread *current = NULL;  /* thread handling the current request */
-int global_error = 0;  /* global error code for when no thread is current */
+unsigned int global_error = 0;  /* global error code for when no thread is current */
 
 static struct master_socket *master_socket;  /* the master socket object */