diff --git a/src/print.c b/src/print.c
index e3fbc393fea..f4b10c49770 100644
--- a/src/print.c
+++ b/src/print.c
@@ -1216,7 +1216,7 @@ print (obj, printcharfun, escapeflag)
 	register int confusing;
 	register unsigned char *p = XSYMBOL (obj)->name->data;
 	register unsigned char *end = p + XSYMBOL (obj)->name->size_byte;
-	register unsigned char c;
+	register int c;
 	int i, i_byte, size_byte;
 	Lisp_Object name;