diff --git a/src/softmagic.c b/src/softmagic.c
index 95061e56..233ebf48 100644
--- a/src/softmagic.c
+++ b/src/softmagic.c
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ mprint(struct magic_set *ms, struct magic *m)
 			break;
 		default:
 			if (file_printf(ms, F(ms, desc, "%u"),
-			    CAST(unsigned short, v)) == -1)
+			    CAST(short, v)) == -1)
 				return -1;
 			break;
 		}