diff --git a/breaktext.c b/breaktext.c
index abe56cf..7588d26 100644
--- a/breaktext.c
+++ b/breaktext.c
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     FILE *fp_out;
     size_t c;
     const char opts[] = "L:l:w:iv";
-    char opt;
+    int opt;
     wint_t wch;
     const char *loc;
     pctimer_t t1, t2, t3, t4;