diff --git a/servers/slapd/back-meta/conn.c b/servers/slapd/back-meta/conn.c
index 1d0a548958..9254407e45 100644
--- a/servers/slapd/back-meta/conn.c
+++ b/servers/slapd/back-meta/conn.c
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ meta_back_get_candidate(
 	struct berval	*ndn )
 {
 	metainfo_t	*mi = ( metainfo_t * )op->o_bd->be_private;
-	int		candidate;
+	long		candidate;
 
 	/*
 	 * tries to get a unique candidate