diff --git a/include/libbb.h b/include/libbb.h
index f9f28f9..7a8bfdf 100644
--- a/include/libbb.h
+++ b/include/libbb.h
@@ -1019,16 +1019,17 @@
 /* NB: typically you want to pass fd 0, not 1. Think 'applet | grep something' */
 int get_terminal_width_height(int fd, int *width, int *height);
 
-int ioctl_or_perror(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...) __attribute__ ((format (printf, 4, 5)));
-int ioctl_or_perror_and_die(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...) __attribute__ ((format (printf, 4, 5)));
+/* NB: "unsigned request" is crucial! "int request" will break some arches! */
+int ioctl_or_perror(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...) __attribute__ ((format (printf, 4, 5)));
+int ioctl_or_perror_and_die(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...) __attribute__ ((format (printf, 4, 5)));
 #if ENABLE_IOCTL_HEX2STR_ERROR
-int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name);
-int bb_xioctl(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name);
+int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name);
+int bb_xioctl(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name);
 #define ioctl_or_warn(fd,request,argp) bb_ioctl_or_warn(fd,request,argp,#request)
 #define xioctl(fd,request,argp)        bb_xioctl(fd,request,argp,#request)
 #else
-int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, int request, void *argp);
-int bb_xioctl(int fd, int request, void *argp);
+int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp);
+int bb_xioctl(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp);
 #define ioctl_or_warn(fd,request,argp) bb_ioctl_or_warn(fd,request,argp)
 #define xioctl(fd,request,argp)        bb_xioctl(fd,request,argp)
 #endif
diff --git a/libbb/xfuncs_printf.c b/libbb/xfuncs_printf.c
index dd8687d..d3fb39f 100644
--- a/libbb/xfuncs_printf.c
+++ b/libbb/xfuncs_printf.c
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@
 #endif
 }
 
-int ioctl_or_perror_and_die(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...)
+int ioctl_or_perror_and_die(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...)
 {
 	int ret;
 	va_list p;
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int ioctl_or_perror(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...)
+int ioctl_or_perror(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *fmt,...)
 {
 	va_list p;
 	int ret = ioctl(fd, request, argp);
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@
 }
 
 #if ENABLE_IOCTL_HEX2STR_ERROR
-int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name)
+int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@
 		bb_simple_perror_msg(ioctl_name);
 	return ret;
 }
-int bb_xioctl(int fd, int request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name)
+int bb_xioctl(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp, const char *ioctl_name)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -500,7 +500,7 @@
 	return ret;
 }
 #else
-int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, int request, void *argp)
+int bb_ioctl_or_warn(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp)
 {
 	int ret;
 
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@
 		bb_perror_msg("ioctl %#x failed", request);
 	return ret;
 }
-int bb_xioctl(int fd, int request, void *argp)
+int bb_xioctl(int fd, unsigned request, void *argp)
 {
 	int ret;