diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 3aefadc..442659b 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -2522,7 +2522,7 @@ formatter_parse_nick (struct formatter *self, char *s)
 	// Never use the black colour, could become transparent on black terminals;
 	// white is similarly excluded from the range
 	if (color == COLOR_BLACK)
-		color = -1;
+		color = (uint16_t) -1;
 
 	// Use a color from the 256-color cube if available
 	color |= self->ctx->nick_palette[siphash_wrapper (nick,