diff --git a/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c b/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
index 2546c59..96049f3 100644
--- a/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_collectionsmodule.c
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     block *rightblock;
     Py_ssize_t leftindex;       /* in range(BLOCKLEN) */
     Py_ssize_t rightindex;      /* in range(BLOCKLEN) */
-    long state;                 /* incremented whenever the indices move */
+    size_t state;               /* incremented whenever the indices move */
     Py_ssize_t maxlen;
     PyObject *weakreflist; /* List of weak references */
 } dequeobject;
@@ -692,8 +692,8 @@
     Py_ssize_t n = Py_SIZE(deque);
     Py_ssize_t i;
     Py_ssize_t count = 0;
+    size_t start_state = deque->state;
     PyObject *item;
-    long start_state = deque->state;
     int cmp;
 
     for (i=0 ; i<n ; i++) {
@@ -1257,7 +1257,7 @@
     Py_ssize_t index;
     block *b;
     dequeobject *deque;
-    long state;         /* state when the iterator is created */
+    size_t state;          /* state when the iterator is created */
     Py_ssize_t counter;    /* number of items remaining for iteration */
 } dequeiterobject;