diff --git a/servers/slapd/component.c b/servers/slapd/component.c
index 36651ae756..01c30d67ca 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/component.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/component.c
@@ -902,7 +902,7 @@ strip_cav_str( ComponentAssertionValue* cav, char* str)
 /*
  * TAG : "item", "and", "or", "not"
  */
-static int
+static ber_tag_t
 strip_cav_tag( ComponentAssertionValue* cav )
 {