diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 3c1ec140..119b32c6 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-8.3.625
+8.3.626
diff --git a/drc/DRCbasic.c b/drc/DRCbasic.c
index 78acd5f9..b2692fe6 100644
--- a/drc/DRCbasic.c
+++ b/drc/DRCbasic.c
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ drcTile (tile, dinfo, arg)
 		    PropertyRecord *proprec;
 		    bool propfound, isinside = FALSE;
 		    char *name;
-		    char idx = cptr->drcc_exception;
+		    signed char idx = cptr->drcc_exception;
 		    if (idx < 0) idx = -idx - 1;
 		    name = DRCCurStyle->DRCExceptionList[idx];
 
@@ -1216,7 +1216,7 @@ drcTile (tile, dinfo, arg)
 		    PropertyRecord *proprec;
 		    bool propfound, isinside = FALSE;
 		    char *name;
-		    char idx = cptr->drcc_exception;
+		    signed char idx = cptr->drcc_exception;
 		    if (idx < 0) idx = -idx - 1;
 		    name = DRCCurStyle->DRCExceptionList[idx];
 
diff --git a/drc/DRCtech.c b/drc/DRCtech.c
index 4b172eb8..c15e9f96 100644
--- a/drc/DRCtech.c
+++ b/drc/DRCtech.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ static int DRCtag = 0;
  * while reading the DRC tech file section.
  */
 
-static char drcCurException = (char)DRC_EXCEPTION_NONE;
+static signed char drcCurException = (char)DRC_EXCEPTION_NONE;
 
 /*
  * Forward declarations.
diff --git a/drc/drc.h b/drc/drc.h
index 59f6d423..82ed32af 100644
--- a/drc/drc.h
+++ b/drc/drc.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ typedef struct drccookie
     TileTypeBitMask   drcc_mask;	/* Legal types on RHS */
     TileTypeBitMask   drcc_corner;	/* Types that trigger corner check */
     unsigned short    drcc_flags;	/* Miscellaneous flags, see below. */
-    char    	      drcc_exception;	/* Index to list of exceptions */
+    signed char       drcc_exception;	/* Index to list of exceptions */
     int		      drcc_edgeplane;	/* Plane of edge */
     int		      drcc_plane;	/* Index of plane on which to check
 					 * legal types. */