diff --git a/libmpcodecs/ad_faad.c b/libmpcodecs/ad_faad.c
index 65df5eb137..9fd5720381 100644
--- a/libmpcodecs/ad_faad.c
+++ b/libmpcodecs/ad_faad.c
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ static int preinit(sh_audio_t *sh)
 
 static int init(sh_audio_t *sh)
 {
-  unsigned long faac_samplerate, faac_channels;
+  unsigned long faac_samplerate;
+  unsigned char faac_channels;
   int faac_init;
   faac_hdec = faacDecOpen();