diff --git a/golded3/geline.cpp b/golded3/geline.cpp
index 62d9606..13f22d5 100644
--- a/golded3/geline.cpp
+++ b/golded3/geline.cpp
@@ -1774,7 +1774,7 @@ char* XlatStr(char* dest, const char* src, int level, Chs* chrtbl, int qpencoded
   ChsTab* chrs = chrtbl ? chrtbl->t : (ChsTab*)NULL;
 
 #ifdef HAS_ICONV
-  size_t iconvrc=-1;
+  size_t iconvrc=(size_t)(-1);
   if( iconv_cd!=(iconv_t)(-1) ){
     iconvrc=iconv( iconv_cd, NULL, NULL, NULL, NULL ); // init iconv
   }