diff --git a/archival/dpkg.c b/archival/dpkg.c
index 18742e8..0010df5 100644
--- a/archival/dpkg.c
+++ b/archival/dpkg.c
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@
 
 	package_t *p, *packages = NULL;
 	void *status = NULL;
-	char opt = 0;
+	int opt = 0;
 	int optflag = 0;
 
 	while ((opt = getopt(argc, argv, "iruc")) != -1) {