diff --git a/linenoise.c b/linenoise.c
index cfe51e76..bc5f0c93 100644
--- a/linenoise.c
+++ b/linenoise.c
@@ -819,7 +819,7 @@ static int linenoiseEdit(int stdin_fd, int stdout_fd, char *buf, size_t buflen,
 
     if (write(l.ofd,prompt,l.plen) == -1) return -1;
     while(1) {
-        char c;
+        signed char c;
         int nread;
         char seq[3];