diff --git a/src/frontend/help/textdisp.c b/src/frontend/help/textdisp.c
index 556a50dae..c92219c1f 100644
--- a/src/frontend/help/textdisp.c
+++ b/src/frontend/help/textdisp.c
@@ -162,7 +162,8 @@ putline(char *s)
 static int
 putstuff(toplink *tl, int base)
 {
-    int maxwidth = 0, ncols, nrows, nbuts = 0, i, j, k;
+    unsigned int maxwidth = 0;
+    int ncols, nrows, nbuts = 0, i, j, k;
     toplink *tt;
 
     for (tt = tl; tt; tt = tt->next) {