diff --git a/test-parse-options.c b/test-parse-options.c
index 6e18083a7d..61d2c39814 100644
--- a/test-parse-options.c
+++ b/test-parse-options.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ int length_callback(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int unset)
 	if (unset)
 		return 1; /* do not support unset */
 
-	*(unsigned long *)opt->value = strlen(arg);
+	*(int *)opt->value = strlen(arg);
 	return 0;
 }