diff --git a/Headers/gnustep/base/CoderPrivate.h b/Headers/gnustep/base/CoderPrivate.h
index da0292824..19ffc0014 100644
--- a/Headers/gnustep/base/CoderPrivate.h
+++ b/Headers/gnustep/base/CoderPrivate.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ enum {
 
 @interface Coder (Private)
 - _initWithCStream: (id <CStreaming>) cs formatVersion: (int) version;
-- (BOOL) _coderReferenceForObject: anObject;
+- (unsigned) _coderReferenceForObject: anObject;
 @end
 
 #define SIGNATURE_FORMAT_STRING \
diff --git a/Source/objects/CoderPrivate.h b/Source/objects/CoderPrivate.h
index da0292824..19ffc0014 100644
--- a/Source/objects/CoderPrivate.h
+++ b/Source/objects/CoderPrivate.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ enum {
 
 @interface Coder (Private)
 - _initWithCStream: (id <CStreaming>) cs formatVersion: (int) version;
-- (BOOL) _coderReferenceForObject: anObject;
+- (unsigned) _coderReferenceForObject: anObject;
 @end
 
 #define SIGNATURE_FORMAT_STRING \