diff --git a/drivers/sb16/sb16.c b/drivers/sb16/sb16.c
index 3257fa976..11f5f6f42 100644
--- a/drivers/sb16/sb16.c
+++ b/drivers/sb16/sb16.c
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ int data;
 PUBLIC int sb16_inb(port)
 int port;
 {	
-	int s, value = -1;
+	int s;
+	unsigned long value;
 
 	if ((s=sys_inb(port, &value)) != OK)
 		panic("SB16DSP","sys_inb() failed", s);
@@ -43,4 +44,4 @@ int value;
 	
 	if ((s=sys_outb(port, value)) != OK)
 		panic("SB16DSP","sys_outb() failed", s);
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}