diff --git a/cmd/i2c.c b/cmd/i2c.c
index f0aae93073f..e021067e68a 100644
--- a/cmd/i2c.c
+++ b/cmd/i2c.c
@@ -299,7 +299,8 @@ static int do_i2c_write(struct cmd_tbl *cmdtp, int flag, int argc,
 			char *const argv[])
 {
 	uint	chip;
-	uint	devaddr, length;
+	uint	devaddr;
+	int length;
 	int alen;
 	u_char  *memaddr;
 	int ret;