diff --git a/channels/chan_iax2.c b/channels/chan_iax2.c
index 57d084f5d3..41670080f3 100644
--- a/channels/chan_iax2.c
+++ b/channels/chan_iax2.c
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ struct iax2_thread {
 	struct sockaddr_in iosin;
 	unsigned char readbuf[4096]; 
 	unsigned char *buf;
-	size_t buf_len;
+	ssize_t buf_len;
 	size_t buf_size;
 	int iofd;
 	time_t checktime;