diff --git a/src/libsystemd-network/dhcp-lease-internal.h b/src/libsystemd-network/dhcp-lease-internal.h
index 95c2375d48..c6b97ca8f7 100644
--- a/src/libsystemd-network/dhcp-lease-internal.h
+++ b/src/libsystemd-network/dhcp-lease-internal.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ struct sd_dhcp_raw_option {
 };
 
 struct sd_dhcp_lease {
-        int n_ref;
+        unsigned n_ref;
 
         /* each 0 if unset */
         uint32_t t1;