diff --git a/mach/proto/ncg/subr.c b/mach/proto/ncg/subr.c
index ecc1cbaaf..72567e0ea 100644
--- a/mach/proto/ncg/subr.c
+++ b/mach/proto/ncg/subr.c
@@ -569,7 +569,7 @@ unsigned int stackupto(token_p limit, int ply, int toplevel)
 	int areg[MAXALLREG];
 	c1_p cp;
 	token_p tp;
-	int totalcost=0;
+	unsigned int totalcost=0;
 	struct reginfo *rp,**rpp;
 
 	for (tp=fakestack;tp<=limit;limit--) {