diff --git a/src/spell.c b/src/spell.c
index c92eb65..f72325b 100644
--- a/src/spell.c
+++ b/src/spell.c
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@
 {
     int		fd;
     size_t	len;
-    size_t	l;
+    int		l;
     char_u	*p = NULL, *np;
     sblock_T	*bl = NULL;
     int		bl_used = 0;