diff --git a/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h b/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h
index 1efea3615589..70dd3b1798f1 100644
--- a/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h
+++ b/fs/ocfs2/ocfs2.h
@@ -159,9 +159,9 @@ struct ocfs2_lock_res {
 	char                     l_name[OCFS2_LOCK_ID_MAX_LEN];
 	unsigned int             l_ro_holders;
 	unsigned int             l_ex_holders;
-	char			 l_level;
-	char			 l_requested;
-	char			 l_blocking;
+	signed char		 l_level;
+	signed char		 l_requested;
+	signed char		 l_blocking;
 
 	/* Data packed - type enum ocfs2_lock_type */
 	unsigned char            l_type;