diff --git a/include/types/dns.h b/include/types/dns.h
index d7afe02cd..0ebe380b0 100644
--- a/include/types/dns.h
+++ b/include/types/dns.h
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ struct dns_answer_item {
 	int16_t         priority;                  /* SRV type priority */
 	uint16_t        weight;                    /* SRV type weight */
 	int16_t         port;                      /* SRV type port */
-	int16_t         data_len;                  /* number of bytes in target below */
+	uint16_t        data_len;                  /* number of bytes in target below */
 	struct sockaddr address;                   /* IPv4 or IPv6, network format */
 	char            target[DNS_MAX_NAME_SIZE]; /* Response data: SRV or CNAME type target */
 	time_t          last_seen;                 /* When was the answer was last seen */