diff --git a/converter/other/xwdtopnm.c b/converter/other/xwdtopnm.c
index 6c19ade..c0c5b46 100644
--- a/converter/other/xwdtopnm.c
+++ b/converter/other/xwdtopnm.c
@@ -1031,7 +1031,7 @@ pixelReader_getbits(pixelReader * const rdrP,
             unsigned long const bitsToTakeMask = lsbmask[nBitsToTake];
                 /* E.g. if nbitsToTake is 4, this is 0x0000000F */
 
-            unsigned long bitsToTake;
+            unsigned int bitsToTake;
                 /* The actual bits we take, in the 'nBitsToTake' low bits */
 
             assert(nBitsToTake <= 32);