diff --git a/cpukit/include/rtems/termiostypes.h b/cpukit/include/rtems/termiostypes.h
index 5cf418a5eb..3b71281154 100644
--- a/cpukit/include/rtems/termiostypes.h
+++ b/cpukit/include/rtems/termiostypes.h
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ typedef struct rtems_termios_tty {
    * The canonical (cooked) character buffer
    */
   char    *cbuf;
-  int    ccount;
-  int    cindex;
+  size_t ccount;
+  size_t cindex;
 
   /*
    * Keep track of cursor (printhead) position