diff --git a/tools/iio/iio_generic_buffer.c b/tools/iio/iio_generic_buffer.c
index 3040830d7797..84545666a09c 100644
--- a/tools/iio/iio_generic_buffer.c
+++ b/tools/iio/iio_generic_buffer.c
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ static const struct option longopts[] = {
 
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
-	unsigned long long num_loops = 2;
+	long long num_loops = 2;
 	unsigned long timedelay = 1000000;
 	unsigned long buf_len = 128;