diff --git a/vpi/sys_display.c b/vpi/sys_display.c
index 55733b9f5..998b9393e 100644
--- a/vpi/sys_display.c
+++ b/vpi/sys_display.c
@@ -406,13 +406,13 @@ static unsigned int get_format_char(char **rtn, int ljust, int plus,
         vpi_printf("WARNING: %s:%d: missing argument for %s%s.\n",
                    info->filename, info->lineno, info->name, fmtb);
       } else {
-        value.format = vpiStringVal;
+        value.format = vpiIntVal;
         vpi_get_value(info->items[*idx], &value);
         if (value.format == vpiSuppressVal) {
           vpi_printf("WARNING: %s:%d: incompatible value for %s%s.\n",
                      info->filename, info->lineno, info->name, fmtb);
         } else {
-          char ch = value.value.str[strlen(value.value.str)-1];
+          char ch = value.value.integer;
 
           /* If the width is less than one then use a width of one. */
           if (width < 1) width = 1;