diff --git a/src/dehacked.c b/src/dehacked.c
index b80a3ceb7..e43c04fed 100644
--- a/src/dehacked.c
+++ b/src/dehacked.c
@@ -1325,15 +1325,15 @@ static void readlevelheader(MYFILE *f, INT32 num)
 			// miru: we can build custom map header words here
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "LEVELWIPE"))
 			{
-				mapheaderinfo[num-1]->levelwipe = (INT16)i;
+				mapheaderinfo[num-1]->levelwipe = (UINT8)i;
 			}
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "POSTLEVELWIPE"))
 			{
-				mapheaderinfo[num-1]->postlevelwipe = (INT16)i;
+				mapheaderinfo[num-1]->postlevelwipe = (UINT8)i;
 			}
 			else if (fastcmp(word, "WIPECOLOR"))
 			{
-				mapheaderinfo[num-1]->wipecolor = (INT16)i;
+				mapheaderinfo[num-1]->wipecolor = (UINT8)i;
 			}
 			else
 				deh_warning("Level header %d: unknown word '%s'", num, word);