diff --git a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
index e4fd4f3a3cc7..ce54508eeb20 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nf_conntrack_core.c
@@ -1955,7 +1955,7 @@ static int nf_confirm_cthelper(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nf_conn *ct,
 {
 	const struct nf_conntrack_helper *helper;
 	const struct nf_conn_help *help;
-	unsigned int protoff;
+	int protoff;
 
 	help = nfct_help(ct);
 	if (!help)