diff --git a/src/d_clisrv.c b/src/d_clisrv.c
index c3c54ea99..953a3e1d7 100644
--- a/src/d_clisrv.c
+++ b/src/d_clisrv.c
@@ -4765,7 +4765,7 @@ static void PT_Say(int node)
 	DoSayCommand(say.message, say.target, say.flags, say.source);
 }
 
-static char NodeToSplitPlayer(int node, int split)
+static int8_t NodeToSplitPlayer(int node, int split)
 {
 	if (split == 0)
 		return nodetoplayer[node];