diff --git a/src/ex_getln.c b/src/ex_getln.c
index 2a2b08b..421c6b7 100644
--- a/src/ex_getln.c
+++ b/src/ex_getln.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@
     static int
 empty_pattern(char_u *p)
 {
-    int n = STRLEN(p);
+    size_t n = STRLEN(p);
 
     /* remove trailing \v and the like */
     while (n >= 2 && p[n - 2] == '\\'