diff --git a/cpukit/include/rtems/rtl/rtl-archive.h b/cpukit/include/rtems/rtl/rtl-archive.h
index 6684815c89..3c8516e02f 100644
--- a/cpukit/include/rtems/rtl/rtl-archive.h
+++ b/cpukit/include/rtems/rtl/rtl-archive.h
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ typedef struct rtems_rtl_archives
 {
   const char*         config_name;    /**< Config file name. */
   time_t              config_mtime;   /**< Config last modified time. */
-  size_t              config_length;  /**< Length the config data. */
+  ssize_t             config_length;  /**< Length the config data. */
   char*               config;         /**< Config file contents. */
   rtems_chain_control archives;       /**< The located archives. */
 } rtems_rtl_archives;