diff --git a/src/systemcmds/nshterm/nshterm.c b/src/systemcmds/nshterm/nshterm.c
index 7d9484d3eb..fca1798e68 100644
--- a/src/systemcmds/nshterm/nshterm.c
+++ b/src/systemcmds/nshterm/nshterm.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ nshterm_main(int argc, char *argv[])
         printf("Usage: nshterm <device>\n");
         exit(1);
     }
-    uint8_t retries = 0;
+    unsigned retries = 0;
     int fd = -1;
 
     /* try the first 30 seconds */