diff --git a/Sming/Wiring/Stream.cpp b/Sming/Wiring/Stream.cpp
index b4345b8b5b..1040dc18bc 100644
--- a/Sming/Wiring/Stream.cpp
+++ b/Sming/Wiring/Stream.cpp
@@ -146,10 +146,9 @@ float Stream::parseFloat(char skipChar)
 	bool isNegative = false;
 	bool isFraction = false;
 	long value = 0;
-	char c;
 	float fraction = 1.0;
 
-	c = peekNextDigit();
+	int c = peekNextDigit();
 	// ignore non numeric leading characters
 	if(c < 0) {
 		return 0; // timeout