diff --git a/source/build/include/palette.h b/source/build/include/palette.h
index 94df7d90b..09fdd2f6b 100644
--- a/source/build/include/palette.h
+++ b/source/build/include/palette.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ typedef struct {
 } rgb24_t;
 extern palette_t curpalette[256], curpalettefaded[256], palfadergb;
 
-extern char palfadedelta;
+extern unsigned char palfadedelta;
 void paletteMakeLookupTable(int32_t palnum, const char *remapbuf, uint8_t r, uint8_t g, uint8_t b, char noFloorPal);
 void paletteSetColorTable(int32_t id, uint8_t const *table, bool transient = false);
 void paletteFreeColorTable(int32_t id);
diff --git a/source/build/src/palette.cpp b/source/build/src/palette.cpp
index 49153d1aa..ca018f02a 100644
--- a/source/build/src/palette.cpp
+++ b/source/build/src/palette.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ uint32_t g_lastpalettesum = 0;
 palette_t curpalette[256];			// the current palette, unadjusted for brightness or tint
 palette_t curpalettefaded[256];		// the current palette, adjusted for brightness and tint (ie. what gets sent to the card)
 palette_t palfadergb = { 0, 0, 0, 0 };
-char palfadedelta = 0;
+unsigned char palfadedelta = 0;
 
 int32_t realmaxshade;
 float frealmaxshade;
diff --git a/source/glbackend/hw_draw2d.cpp b/source/glbackend/hw_draw2d.cpp
index 00b9a9cf1..ac16511f2 100644
--- a/source/glbackend/hw_draw2d.cpp
+++ b/source/glbackend/hw_draw2d.cpp
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ void GLInstance::Draw2D(F2DDrawer *drawer)
 
 static int32_t tint_blood_r = 0, tint_blood_g = 0, tint_blood_b = 0;
 extern palette_t palfadergb;
-extern char palfadedelta ;
+extern unsigned char palfadedelta ;
 
 void DrawFullscreenBlends()
 {
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ void DrawFullscreenBlends()
 	GLInterface.EnableBlend(true);
 	GLInterface.UseColorOnly(true);
 
-	if (palfadedelta)
+	if (palfadedelta > 0)
 	{
 		// Todo: reroute to the 2D drawer
 		GLInterface.SetRenderStyle(LegacyRenderStyles[STYLE_Translucent]);