diff --git a/src/gamedata/xlat/xlat.h b/src/gamedata/xlat/xlat.h
index f488704ff1..516104af12 100644
--- a/src/gamedata/xlat/xlat.h
+++ b/src/gamedata/xlat/xlat.h
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ struct FBoomTranslator
 {
 	uint16_t FirstLinetype = 0;
 	uint16_t LastLinetype = 0;
-	uint8_t NewSpecial = 0;
+	uint16_t NewSpecial = 0;
 	TArray<FBoomArg> Args;
 } ;