diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index c48bb35dc0..1c25c94863 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -729,7 +729,7 @@ static int git_parse_source(config_fn_t fn, void *data,
 			    const struct config_options *opts)
 {
 	int comment = 0;
-	int baselen = 0;
+	size_t baselen = 0;
 	struct strbuf *var = &cf->var;
 	int error_return = 0;
 	char *error_msg = NULL;