diff --git a/drivers/char/hvcs.c b/drivers/char/hvcs.c
index 473d9b1..6e6eb44 100644
--- a/drivers/char/hvcs.c
+++ b/drivers/char/hvcs.c
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@
 	unsigned int index;
 
 	struct tty_struct *tty;
-	unsigned int open_count;
+	int open_count;
 
 	/*
 	 * Used to tell the driver kernel_thread what operations need to take