diff --git a/clatd.c b/clatd.c
index a89c588..63c4d6d 100644
--- a/clatd.c
+++ b/clatd.c
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@
  */
 void read_packet(int active_fd, const struct tun_data *tunnel) {
   ssize_t readlen;
-  char packet[PACKETLEN];
+  uint8_t packet[PACKETLEN];
 
   // in case something ignores the packet length
   memset(packet, 0, PACKETLEN);
diff --git a/clatd_test.cpp b/clatd_test.cpp
index b70f9af..ba78898 100644
--- a/clatd_test.cpp
+++ b/clatd_test.cpp
@@ -101,28 +101,28 @@
   0, 0, 0, (protocol),
 
 // A fragmented DNS request.
-static const char kIPv4Frag1[] = {
+static const uint8_t kIPv4Frag1[] = {
     0x45, 0x00, 0x00, 0x24, 0xfe, 0x47, 0x20, 0x00, 0x40, 0x11,
     0x8c, 0x6d, 0xc0, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08,
     0x14, 0x5d, 0x00, 0x35, 0x00, 0x29, 0x68, 0xbb, 0x50, 0x47,
     0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00
 };
-static const char kIPv4Frag2[] = {
+static const uint8_t kIPv4Frag2[] = {
     0x45, 0x00, 0x00, 0x24, 0xfe, 0x47, 0x20, 0x02, 0x40, 0x11,
     0x8c, 0x6b, 0xc0, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08,
     0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x69, 0x70, 0x76, 0x34, 0x06,
     0x67, 0x6f, 0x6f, 0x67, 0x6c, 0x65
 };
-static const char kIPv4Frag3[] = {
+static const uint8_t kIPv4Frag3[] = {
     0x45, 0x00, 0x00, 0x1d, 0xfe, 0x47, 0x00, 0x04, 0x40, 0x11,
     0xac, 0x70, 0xc0, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08,
     0x03, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x01
 };
-static const char *kIPv4Fragments[] = { kIPv4Frag1, kIPv4Frag2, kIPv4Frag3 };
-static const int kIPv4FragLengths[] = { sizeof(kIPv4Frag1), sizeof(kIPv4Frag2),
-                                        sizeof(kIPv4Frag3) };
+static const uint8_t *kIPv4Fragments[] = { kIPv4Frag1, kIPv4Frag2, kIPv4Frag3 };
+static const size_t kIPv4FragLengths[] = { sizeof(kIPv4Frag1), sizeof(kIPv4Frag2),
+                                           sizeof(kIPv4Frag3) };
 
-static const char kIPv6Frag1[] = {
+static const uint8_t kIPv6Frag1[] = {
     0x60, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x18, 0x2c, 0x40, 0x20, 0x01,
     0x0d, 0xb8, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0b, 0x11, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
     0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x64, 0x00, 0x64, 0xff, 0x9b, 0x00, 0x00,
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@
     0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00
 };
 
-static const char kIPv6Frag2[] = {
+static const uint8_t kIPv6Frag2[] = {
     0x60, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x18, 0x2c, 0x40, 0x20, 0x01,
     0x0d, 0xb8, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0b, 0x11, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
     0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x64, 0x00, 0x64, 0xff, 0x9b, 0x00, 0x00,
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@
     0x6f, 0x67, 0x6c, 0x65
 };
 
-static const char kIPv6Frag3[] = {
+static const uint8_t kIPv6Frag3[] = {
     0x60, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x11, 0x2c, 0x40, 0x20, 0x01,
     0x0d, 0xb8, 0x00, 0x00, 0x0b, 0x11, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
     0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x64, 0x00, 0x64, 0xff, 0x9b, 0x00, 0x00,
@@ -150,11 +150,11 @@
     0x11, 0x00, 0x00, 0x20, 0x00, 0x00, 0xfe, 0x47, 0x03, 0x63,
     0x6f, 0x6d, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x01
 };
-static const char *kIPv6Fragments[] = { kIPv6Frag1, kIPv6Frag2, kIPv6Frag3 };
-static const int kIPv6FragLengths[] = { sizeof(kIPv6Frag1), sizeof(kIPv6Frag2),
-                                        sizeof(kIPv6Frag3) };
+static const uint8_t *kIPv6Fragments[] = { kIPv6Frag1, kIPv6Frag2, kIPv6Frag3 };
+static const size_t kIPv6FragLengths[] = { sizeof(kIPv6Frag1), sizeof(kIPv6Frag2),
+                                           sizeof(kIPv6Frag3) };
 
-static const char kReassembledIPv4[] = {
+static const uint8_t kReassembledIPv4[] = {
     0x45, 0x00, 0x00, 0x3d, 0xfe, 0x47, 0x00, 0x00, 0x40, 0x11,
     0xac, 0x54, 0xc0, 0x00, 0x00, 0x04, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08, 0x08,
     0x14, 0x5d, 0x00, 0x35, 0x00, 0x29, 0x68, 0xbb, 0x50, 0x47,
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@
 static const uint16_t kUdpV4Checksum          = 0xd0c7;
 static const uint16_t kUdpV6Checksum          = 0xa74a;
 
-int ip_version(const char *packet) {
-  int version = packet[0] >> 4;
+uint8_t ip_version(const uint8_t *packet) {
+  uint8_t version = packet[0] >> 4;
   return version;
 }
 
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@
   return ntohs((frag->ip6f_offlg & IP6F_OFF_MASK) >> 3);
 }
 
-void check_packet(const char *packet, size_t len, const char *msg) {
+void check_packet(const uint8_t *packet, size_t len, const char *msg) {
   void *payload;
   size_t payload_length = 0;
   uint32_t pseudo_checksum = 0;
@@ -282,16 +282,16 @@
   }
 }
 
-void reassemble_packet(const char **fragments, const int lengths[], int numpackets,
-                       char *reassembled, size_t *reassembled_len, const char *msg) {
+void reassemble_packet(const uint8_t **fragments, const size_t lengths[], int numpackets,
+                       uint8_t *reassembled, size_t *reassembled_len, const char *msg) {
   struct iphdr *ip = NULL;
   struct ip6_hdr *ip6 = NULL;
   int total_length, pos = 0;
   uint8_t protocol;
-  int version = ip_version(fragments[0]);
+  uint8_t version = ip_version(fragments[0]);
 
   for (int i = 0; i < numpackets; i++) {
-    const char *packet = fragments[i];
+    const uint8_t *packet = fragments[i];
     int len = lengths[i];
     int headersize, payload_offset;
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@
   *reassembled_len = total_length;
 }
 
-void check_data_matches(const char *expected, const char *actual, size_t len, const char *msg) {
+void check_data_matches(const uint8_t *expected, const uint8_t *actual, size_t len, const char *msg) {
   if (memcmp(expected, actual, len)) {
     // Hex dump, 20 bytes per line, one space between bytes (1 byte = 3 chars), indented by 4.
     int hexdump_len = len * 3 + (len / 20 + 1) * 5;
@@ -392,9 +392,9 @@
   }
 }
 
-void fix_udp_checksum(char* packet) {
+void fix_udp_checksum(uint8_t* packet) {
   uint32_t pseudo_checksum;
-  int version = ip_version(packet);
+  uint8_t version = ip_version(packet);
   struct udphdr *udp;
   switch (version) {
     case 4: {
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@
   udp->check = ip_checksum_finish(ip_checksum_add(pseudo_checksum, udp, ntohs(udp->len)));
 }
 
-void do_translate_packet(const char *original, size_t original_len, char *out, size_t *outlen,
+void do_translate_packet(const uint8_t *original, size_t original_len, uint8_t *out, size_t *outlen,
                          const char *msg) {
   int fds[2];
   if (socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_DGRAM | SOCK_NONBLOCK, 0, fds)) {
@@ -471,17 +471,17 @@
   }
 }
 
-void check_translated_packet(const char *original, size_t original_len,
-                             const char *expected, size_t expected_len, const char *msg) {
-  char translated[MAXMTU];
+void check_translated_packet(const uint8_t *original, size_t original_len,
+                             const uint8_t *expected, size_t expected_len, const char *msg) {
+  uint8_t translated[MAXMTU];
   size_t translated_len = sizeof(translated);
   do_translate_packet(original, original_len, translated, &translated_len, msg);
   EXPECT_EQ(expected_len, translated_len) << msg << ": Translated packet length incorrect\n";
   check_data_matches(expected, translated, translated_len, msg);
 }
 
-void check_fragment_translation(const char *original[], const int original_lengths[],
-                                const char *expected[], const int expected_lengths[],
+void check_fragment_translation(const uint8_t *original[], const size_t original_lengths[],
+                                const uint8_t *expected[], const size_t expected_lengths[],
                                 int numfragments, const char *msg) {
   for (int i = 0; i < numfragments; i++) {
     // Check that each of the fragments translates as expected.
@@ -492,12 +492,12 @@
   }
 
   // Sanity check that reassembling the original and translated fragments produces valid packets.
-  char reassembled[MAXMTU];
+  uint8_t reassembled[MAXMTU];
   size_t reassembled_len = sizeof(reassembled);
   reassemble_packet(original, original_lengths, numfragments, reassembled, &reassembled_len, msg);
   check_packet(reassembled, reassembled_len, msg);
 
-  char translated[MAXMTU];
+  uint8_t translated[MAXMTU];
   size_t translated_len = sizeof(translated);
   do_translate_packet(reassembled, reassembled_len, translated, &translated_len, msg);
   check_packet(translated, translated_len, msg);
@@ -516,37 +516,37 @@
 
 TEST_F(ClatdTest, Sanitycheck) {
   // Sanity checks the data.
-  char v4_header[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t v4_header[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER };
   ASSERT_EQ(sizeof(struct iphdr), sizeof(v4_header)) << "Test IPv4 header: incorrect length\n";
 
-  char v6_header[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t v6_header[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER };
   ASSERT_EQ(sizeof(struct ip6_hdr), sizeof(v6_header)) << "Test IPv6 header: incorrect length\n";
 
-  char udp_header[] = { UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t udp_header[] = { UDP_HEADER };
   ASSERT_EQ(sizeof(struct udphdr), sizeof(udp_header)) << "Test UDP header: incorrect length\n";
 
   // Sanity checks check_packet.
   struct udphdr *udp;
-  char v4_udp_packet[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t v4_udp_packet[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
   udp = (struct udphdr *) (v4_udp_packet + sizeof(struct iphdr));
   fix_udp_checksum(v4_udp_packet);
   ASSERT_EQ(kUdpV4Checksum, udp->check) << "UDP/IPv4 packet checksum sanity check\n";
   check_packet(v4_udp_packet, sizeof(v4_udp_packet), "UDP/IPv4 packet sanity check");
 
-  char v6_udp_packet[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t v6_udp_packet[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
   udp = (struct udphdr *) (v6_udp_packet + sizeof(struct ip6_hdr));
   fix_udp_checksum(v6_udp_packet);
   ASSERT_EQ(kUdpV6Checksum, udp->check) << "UDP/IPv6 packet checksum sanity check\n";
   check_packet(v6_udp_packet, sizeof(v6_udp_packet), "UDP/IPv6 packet sanity check");
 
-  char ipv4_ping[] = { IPV4_ICMP_HEADER IPV4_PING PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t ipv4_ping[] = { IPV4_ICMP_HEADER IPV4_PING PAYLOAD };
   check_packet(ipv4_ping, sizeof(ipv4_ping), "IPv4 ping sanity check");
 
-  char ipv6_ping[] = { IPV6_ICMPV6_HEADER IPV6_PING PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t ipv6_ping[] = { IPV6_ICMPV6_HEADER IPV6_PING PAYLOAD };
   check_packet(ipv6_ping, sizeof(ipv6_ping), "IPv6 ping sanity check");
 
   // Sanity checks reassemble_packet.
-  char reassembled[MAXMTU];
+  uint8_t reassembled[MAXMTU];
   size_t total_length = sizeof(reassembled);
   reassemble_packet(kIPv4Fragments, kIPv4FragLengths, ARRAYSIZE(kIPv4Fragments),
                     reassembled, &total_length, "Reassembly sanity check");
@@ -567,15 +567,15 @@
 TEST_F(ClatdTest, PseudoChecksum) {
   uint32_t pseudo_checksum;
 
-  char v4_header[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER };
-  char v4_pseudo_header[] = { IPV4_PSEUDOHEADER(v4_header, UDP_LEN) };
+  uint8_t v4_header[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t v4_pseudo_header[] = { IPV4_PSEUDOHEADER(v4_header, UDP_LEN) };
   pseudo_checksum = ipv4_pseudo_header_checksum((struct iphdr *) v4_header, UDP_LEN);
   EXPECT_EQ(ip_checksum_finish(pseudo_checksum),
             ip_checksum(v4_pseudo_header, sizeof(v4_pseudo_header)))
             << "ipv4_pseudo_header_checksum incorrect\n";
 
-  char v6_header[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER };
-  char v6_pseudo_header[] = { IPV6_PSEUDOHEADER(v6_header, IPPROTO_UDP, UDP_LEN) };
+  uint8_t v6_header[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t v6_pseudo_header[] = { IPV6_PSEUDOHEADER(v6_header, IPPROTO_UDP, UDP_LEN) };
   pseudo_checksum = ipv6_pseudo_header_checksum((struct ip6_hdr *) v6_header, UDP_LEN, IPPROTO_UDP);
   EXPECT_EQ(ip_checksum_finish(pseudo_checksum),
             ip_checksum(v6_pseudo_header, sizeof(v6_pseudo_header)))
@@ -583,15 +583,15 @@
 }
 
 TEST_F(ClatdTest, TransportChecksum) {
-  char udphdr[] = { UDP_HEADER };
-  char payload[] = { PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t udphdr[] = { UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t payload[] = { PAYLOAD };
   EXPECT_EQ(kUdpPartialChecksum, ip_checksum_add(0, udphdr, sizeof(udphdr)))
             << "UDP partial checksum\n";
   EXPECT_EQ(kPayloadPartialChecksum, ip_checksum_add(0, payload, sizeof(payload)))
             << "Payload partial checksum\n";
 
-  char ip[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER };
-  char ip6[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t ip[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER };
+  uint8_t ip6[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER };
   uint32_t ipv4_pseudo_sum = ipv4_pseudo_header_checksum((struct iphdr *) ip, UDP_LEN);
   uint32_t ipv6_pseudo_sum = ipv6_pseudo_header_checksum((struct ip6_hdr *) ip6, UDP_LEN,
                                                          IPPROTO_UDP);
@@ -643,8 +643,8 @@
 }
 
 TEST_F(ClatdTest, Translate) {
-  char udp_ipv4[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
-  char udp_ipv6[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t udp_ipv4[] = { IPV4_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t udp_ipv6[] = { IPV6_UDP_HEADER UDP_HEADER PAYLOAD };
   fix_udp_checksum(udp_ipv4);
   fix_udp_checksum(udp_ipv6);
   check_translated_packet(udp_ipv4, sizeof(udp_ipv4), udp_ipv6, sizeof(udp_ipv6),
@@ -652,8 +652,8 @@
   check_translated_packet(udp_ipv6, sizeof(udp_ipv6), udp_ipv4, sizeof(udp_ipv4),
                           "UDP/IPv6 -> UDP/IPv4 translation");
 
-  char ipv4_ping[] = { IPV4_ICMP_HEADER IPV4_PING PAYLOAD };
-  char ipv6_ping[] = { IPV6_ICMPV6_HEADER IPV6_PING PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t ipv4_ping[] = { IPV4_ICMP_HEADER IPV4_PING PAYLOAD };
+  uint8_t ipv6_ping[] = { IPV6_ICMPV6_HEADER IPV6_PING PAYLOAD };
   check_translated_packet(ipv4_ping, sizeof(ipv4_ping), ipv6_ping, sizeof(ipv6_ping),
                           "ICMP->ICMPv6 translation");
   check_translated_packet(ipv6_ping, sizeof(ipv6_ping), ipv4_ping, sizeof(ipv4_ping),
diff --git a/dump.c b/dump.c
index ba5fa3e..0fda4e7 100644
--- a/dump.c
+++ b/dump.c
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@
 }
 
 /* print udp header */
-void dump_udp_generic(const struct udphdr *udp, uint32_t temp_checksum, const char *payload, size_t payload_size) {
+void dump_udp_generic(const struct udphdr *udp, uint32_t temp_checksum,
+                      const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size) {
   uint16_t my_checksum;
 
   temp_checksum = ip_checksum_add(temp_checksum, udp, sizeof(struct udphdr));
@@ -145,14 +146,16 @@
 }
 
 /* print ipv4/udp header */
-void dump_udp(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct iphdr *ip, const char *payload, size_t payload_size) {
+void dump_udp(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct iphdr *ip,
+              const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size) {
   uint32_t temp_checksum;
   temp_checksum = ipv4_pseudo_header_checksum(ip, sizeof(*udp) + payload_size);
   dump_udp_generic(udp, temp_checksum, payload, payload_size);
 }
 
 /* print ipv6/udp header */
-void dump_udp6(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6, const char *payload, size_t payload_size) {
+void dump_udp6(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6,
+               const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size) {
   uint32_t temp_checksum;
   temp_checksum = ipv6_pseudo_header_checksum(ip6, sizeof(*udp) + payload_size, IPPROTO_UDP);
   dump_udp_generic(udp, temp_checksum, payload, payload_size);
@@ -200,7 +203,9 @@
 }
 
 /* print ipv4/tcp header */
-void dump_tcp(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct iphdr *ip, const char *payload, size_t payload_size, const char *options, size_t options_size) {
+void dump_tcp(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct iphdr *ip,
+              const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size,
+              const char *options, size_t options_size) {
   uint32_t temp_checksum;
 
   temp_checksum = ipv4_pseudo_header_checksum(ip, sizeof(*tcp) + options_size + payload_size);
@@ -208,7 +213,9 @@
 }
 
 /* print ipv6/tcp header */
-void dump_tcp6(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6, const char *payload, size_t payload_size, const char *options, size_t options_size) {
+void dump_tcp6(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6,
+               const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size,
+               const char *options, size_t options_size) {
   uint32_t temp_checksum;
 
   temp_checksum = ipv6_pseudo_header_checksum(ip6, sizeof(*tcp) + options_size + payload_size, IPPROTO_TCP);
@@ -216,13 +223,13 @@
 }
 
 /* generic hex dump */
-void logcat_hexdump(const char *info, const char *data, size_t len) {
+void logcat_hexdump(const char *info, const uint8_t *data, size_t len) {
   char output[PACKETLEN*3+2];
   size_t i;
 
   output[0] = '\0';
   for(i = 0; i < len && i < PACKETLEN; i++) {
-    snprintf(output + i*3, 4, " %02x", (uint8_t)data[i]);
+    snprintf(output + i*3, 4, " %02x", data[i]);
   }
   output[len*3+3] = '\0';
 
diff --git a/dump.h b/dump.h
index 9cb040c..bb41b3b 100644
--- a/dump.h
+++ b/dump.h
@@ -20,15 +20,21 @@
 
 void dump_ip(struct iphdr *header);
 void dump_icmp(struct icmphdr *icmp);
-void dump_udp(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct iphdr *ip, const char *payload, size_t payload_size);
-void dump_tcp(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct iphdr *ip, const char *payload, size_t payload_size, const char *options, size_t options_size);
+void dump_udp(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct iphdr *ip,
+              const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size);
+void dump_tcp(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct iphdr *ip,
+              const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size,
+              const char *options, size_t options_size);
 
 void dump_ip6(struct ip6_hdr *header);
 void dump_icmp6(struct icmp6_hdr *icmp6);
-void dump_udp6(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6, const char *payload, size_t payload_size);
-void dump_tcp6(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6, const char *payload, size_t payload_size, const char *options, size_t options_size);
+void dump_udp6(const struct udphdr *udp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6,
+               const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size);
+void dump_tcp6(const struct tcphdr *tcp, const struct ip6_hdr *ip6,
+               const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size,
+               const char *options, size_t options_size);
 
-void logcat_hexdump(const char *info, const char *data, size_t len);
+void logcat_hexdump(const char *info, const uint8_t *data, size_t len);
 void dump_iovec(const struct iovec *iov, int iov_len);
 
 #endif /* __DUMP_H__ */
diff --git a/ipv4.c b/ipv4.c
index 84dccd5..2695a86 100644
--- a/ipv4.c
+++ b/ipv4.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
  */
 int icmp_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct icmphdr *icmp, uint32_t checksum,
                 size_t len) {
-  const char *payload;
+  const uint8_t *payload;
   size_t payload_size;
 
   if(len < sizeof(struct icmphdr)) {
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
     return 0;
   }
 
-  payload = (const char *) (icmp + 1);
+  payload = (const uint8_t *) (icmp + 1);
   payload_size = len - sizeof(struct icmphdr);
 
   return icmp_to_icmp6(out, pos, icmp, checksum, payload, payload_size);
@@ -54,13 +54,13 @@
  * len    - size of packet
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
-int ipv4_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const char *packet, size_t len) {
+int ipv4_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const uint8_t *packet, size_t len) {
   const struct iphdr *header = (struct iphdr *) packet;
   struct ip6_hdr *ip6_targ = (struct ip6_hdr *) out[pos].iov_base;
   struct ip6_frag *frag_hdr;
   size_t frag_hdr_len;
   uint8_t nxthdr;
-  const char *next_header;
+  const uint8_t *next_header;
   size_t len_left;
   uint32_t old_sum, new_sum;
   int iov_len;
diff --git a/ipv6.c b/ipv6.c
index 2e83be1..d519e1b 100644
--- a/ipv6.c
+++ b/ipv6.c
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
 int icmp6_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct icmp6_hdr *icmp6, size_t len) {
-  const char *payload;
+  const uint8_t *payload;
   size_t payload_size;
 
   if(len < sizeof(struct icmp6_hdr)) {
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
     return 0;
   }
 
-  payload = (const char *) (icmp6 + 1);
+  payload = (const uint8_t *) (icmp6 + 1);
   payload_size = len - sizeof(struct icmp6_hdr);
 
   return icmp6_to_icmp(out, pos, icmp6, payload, payload_size);
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@
  * len    - size of packet
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
-int ipv6_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const char *packet, size_t len) {
+int ipv6_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const uint8_t *packet, size_t len) {
   const struct ip6_hdr *ip6 = (struct ip6_hdr *) packet;
   struct iphdr *ip_targ = (struct iphdr *) out[pos].iov_base;
   struct ip6_frag *frag_hdr = NULL;
   uint8_t protocol;
-  const char *next_header;
+  const uint8_t *next_header;
   size_t len_left;
   uint32_t old_sum, new_sum;
   int iov_len;
diff --git a/translate.c b/translate.c
index 7585092..b357057 100644
--- a/translate.c
+++ b/translate.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
 int icmp_to_icmp6(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct icmphdr *icmp, uint32_t checksum,
-                  const char *payload, size_t payload_size) {
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size) {
   struct icmp6_hdr *icmp6_targ = out[pos].iov_base;
   uint8_t icmp6_type;
   int clat_packet_len;
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@
     // Ping packet.
     icmp6_targ->icmp6_id = icmp->un.echo.id;
     icmp6_targ->icmp6_seq = icmp->un.echo.sequence;
-    out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (char *) payload;
+    out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (uint8_t *) payload;
     out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_len = payload_size;
     clat_packet_len = CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD + 1;
   } else {
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
 int icmp6_to_icmp(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct icmp6_hdr *icmp6,
-                  const char *payload, size_t payload_size) {
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size) {
   struct icmphdr *icmp_targ = out[pos].iov_base;
   uint8_t icmp_type;
   int clat_packet_len;
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@
     // Ping packet.
     icmp_targ->un.echo.id = icmp6->icmp6_id;
     icmp_targ->un.echo.sequence = icmp6->icmp6_seq;
-    out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (char *) payload;
+    out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (uint8_t *) payload;
     out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_len = payload_size;
     clat_packet_len = CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD + 1;
   } else {
@@ -324,9 +324,10 @@
  * len      - size of ip payload
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
-int generic_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const char *payload, size_t len) {
+int generic_packet(clat_packet out, int pos,
+                   const uint8_t *payload, size_t len) {
   out[pos].iov_len = 0;
-  out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (char *) payload;
+  out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (uint8_t *) payload;
   out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_len = len;
 
   return CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD + 1;
@@ -342,7 +343,7 @@
  */
 int udp_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct udphdr *udp,
                uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum, size_t len) {
-  const char *payload;
+  const uint8_t *payload;
   size_t payload_size;
 
   if(len < sizeof(struct udphdr)) {
@@ -350,7 +351,7 @@
     return 0;
   }
 
-  payload = (const char *) (udp + 1);
+  payload = (const uint8_t *) (udp + 1);
   payload_size = len - sizeof(struct udphdr);
 
   return udp_translate(out, pos, udp, old_sum, new_sum, payload, payload_size);
@@ -366,7 +367,7 @@
  */
 int tcp_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct tcphdr *tcp,
                uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum, size_t len) {
-  const char *payload;
+  const uint8_t *payload;
   size_t payload_size, header_size;
 
   if(len < sizeof(struct tcphdr)) {
@@ -385,7 +386,7 @@
   }
 
   header_size = tcp->doff * 4;
-  payload = ((const char *) tcp) + header_size;
+  payload = ((const uint8_t *) tcp) + header_size;
   payload_size = len - header_size;
 
   return tcp_translate(out, pos, tcp, header_size, old_sum, new_sum, payload, payload_size);
@@ -401,14 +402,15 @@
  * payload_size - size of payload
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
-int udp_translate(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct udphdr *udp, uint32_t old_sum,
-                  uint32_t new_sum, const char *payload, size_t payload_size) {
+int udp_translate(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct udphdr *udp,
+                  uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum,
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size) {
   struct udphdr *udp_targ = out[pos].iov_base;
 
   memcpy(udp_targ, udp, sizeof(struct udphdr));
 
   out[pos].iov_len = sizeof(struct udphdr);
-  out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (char *) payload;
+  out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (uint8_t *) payload;
   out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_len = payload_size;
 
   if (udp_targ->check) {
@@ -442,7 +444,8 @@
  * returns: the highest position in the output clat_packet that's filled in
  */
 int tcp_translate(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct tcphdr *tcp, size_t header_size,
-                  uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum, const char *payload, size_t payload_size) {
+                  uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum,
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size) {
   struct tcphdr *tcp_targ = out[pos].iov_base;
   out[pos].iov_len = header_size;
 
@@ -456,7 +459,7 @@
 
   memcpy(tcp_targ, tcp, header_size);
 
-  out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (char *)payload;
+  out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_base = (uint8_t *) payload;
   out[CLAT_POS_PAYLOAD].iov_len = payload_size;
 
   tcp_targ->check = ip_checksum_adjust(tcp->check, old_sum, new_sum);
@@ -471,8 +474,8 @@
  * packet     - packet
  * packetsize - size of packet
  */
-void translate_packet(const struct tun_data *tunnel, struct tun_pi *tun_header, const char *packet,
-                      size_t packetsize) {
+void translate_packet(const struct tun_data *tunnel, struct tun_pi *tun_header,
+                      const uint8_t *packet, size_t packetsize) {
   int fd;
   int iov_len = 0;
 
diff --git a/translate.h b/translate.h
index 5efa817..ab20a55 100644
--- a/translate.h
+++ b/translate.h
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@
                      const struct iphdr *old_header);
 
 // Translate and send packets.
-void translate_packet(const struct tun_data *tunnel, struct tun_pi *tun_header, const char *packet,
-                      size_t packetsize);
+void translate_packet(const struct tun_data *tunnel, struct tun_pi *tun_header,
+                      const uint8_t *packet, size_t packetsize);
 
 // Translate IPv4 and IPv6 packets.
-int ipv4_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const char *packet, size_t len);
-int ipv6_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const char *packet, size_t len);
+int ipv4_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const uint8_t *packet, size_t len);
+int ipv6_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const uint8_t *packet, size_t len);
 
 // Deal with fragmented packets.
 size_t maybe_fill_frag_header(struct ip6_frag *frag_hdr, struct ip6_hdr *ip6_targ,
@@ -74,12 +74,13 @@
 
 // Translate ICMP packets.
 int icmp_to_icmp6(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct icmphdr *icmp, uint32_t checksum,
-                  const char *payload, size_t payload_size);
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size);
 int icmp6_to_icmp(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct icmp6_hdr *icmp6,
-                  const char *payload, size_t payload_size);
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size);
 
 // Translate generic IP packets.
-int generic_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const char *payload, size_t len);
+int generic_packet(clat_packet out, int pos,
+                   const uint8_t *payload, size_t len);
 
 // Translate TCP and UDP packets.
 int tcp_packet(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct tcphdr *tcp,
@@ -88,8 +89,10 @@
                uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum, size_t len);
 
 int tcp_translate(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct tcphdr *tcp, size_t header_size,
-                  uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum, const char *payload, size_t payload_size);
+                  uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum,
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size);
 int udp_translate(clat_packet out, int pos, const struct udphdr *udp,
-                  uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum, const char *payload, size_t payload_size);
+                  uint32_t old_sum, uint32_t new_sum,
+                  const uint8_t *payload, size_t payload_size);
 
 #endif /* __TRANSLATE_H__ */