diff --git a/sndiod/midi.h b/sndiod/midi.h
index 5ef72de..565cf21 100644
--- a/sndiod/midi.h
+++ b/sndiod/midi.h
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ struct midi {
 	unsigned int len;		/* expected ``msg'' length */
 	unsigned int txmask;		/* list of ep we send to */
 	unsigned int self;		/* equal (1 << index) */
-	unsigned int tickets;		/* max bytes we can process */
+	int tickets;			/* max bytes we can process */
 	struct abuf obuf;		/* output buffer */
 };