diff --git a/code/qcommon/msg.c b/code/qcommon/msg.c
index e7d5047c..8a166732 100644
--- a/code/qcommon/msg.c
+++ b/code/qcommon/msg.c
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ int MSG_ReadBits( msg_t *msg, int bits ) {
 			for(i=0;i<bits;i+=8) {
 				Huff_offsetReceive (msgHuff.decompressor.tree, &get, msg->data, &msg->bit, msg->cursize<<3);
 //				fwrite(&get, 1, 1, fp);
-				value |= (get<<(i+nbits));
+				value = (unsigned int)value | ((unsigned int)get<<(i+nbits));
 
 				if (msg->bit > msg->cursize<<3) {
 					msg->readcount = msg->cursize + 1;