diff --git a/src/libbio/bgetc.c b/src/libbio/bgetc.c
index 3399fb16b3..ceb5cb13f8 100644
--- a/src/libbio/bgetc.c
+++ b/src/libbio/bgetc.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ Bgetle4(Biobuf *bp)
 
 	l = Bgetle2(bp);
 	h = Bgetle2(bp);
-	return l|((uint32)h<<16);
+	return (int)((uint32)l|((uint32)h<<16));
 }
 
 int