diff --git a/include/scsi/scsi_device.h b/include/scsi/scsi_device.h
index 0979a5f3b69a..f054f3f43c75 100644
--- a/include/scsi/scsi_device.h
+++ b/include/scsi/scsi_device.h
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ struct scsi_device {
 	unsigned sector_size;	/* size in bytes */
 
 	void *hostdata;		/* available to low-level driver */
-	char type;
+	unsigned char type;
 	char scsi_level;
 	char inq_periph_qual;	/* PQ from INQUIRY data */	
 	struct mutex inquiry_mutex;