diff --git a/Target.h b/Target.h
index b3fc19cfa..91d12675c 100644
--- a/Target.h
+++ b/Target.h
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ class Target {
   PortList ports;
 
   int weird_responses; /* echo responses from other addresses, Ie a network broadcast address */
-  unsigned int flags; /* HOST_UNKNOWN, HOST_UP, or HOST_DOWN. */
+  int flags; /* HOST_UNKNOWN, HOST_UP, or HOST_DOWN. */
   struct timeout_info to;
   char *hostname; // Null if unable to resolve or unset
   char * targetname; // The name of the target host given on the command line if it is a named host
diff --git a/scan_engine.cc b/scan_engine.cc
index 3a5ee20b2..2eee48d18 100644
--- a/scan_engine.cc
+++ b/scan_engine.cc
@@ -2031,7 +2031,7 @@ static const char *readhoststate(int state) {
    Returns true if the state was changed. */
 static bool ultrascan_host_pspec_update(UltraScanInfo *USI, HostScanStats *hss,
                                         const probespec *pspec, int newstate) {
-  unsigned int oldstate = hss->target->flags;
+  int oldstate = hss->target->flags;
   /* If the host is already up, ignore any further updates. */
   if (hss->target->flags != HOST_UP) {
     assert(newstate == HOST_UP || newstate == HOST_DOWN);