diff --git a/dlls/crtdll/crtdll_main.c b/dlls/crtdll/crtdll_main.c
index a09f6f62d2e..ac5677f5cf8 100644
--- a/dlls/crtdll/crtdll_main.c
+++ b/dlls/crtdll/crtdll_main.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ size_t CDECL _strncnt(const char *str, size_t maxlen)
  */
 unsigned int CDECL _strnextc(const char *str)
 {
-    return (unsigned int)str[0];
+    return (unsigned char)str[0];
 }