diff --git a/sys/dev/ioat/ioat.c b/sys/dev/ioat/ioat.c
index bda04542371..3724fbe2f64 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ioat/ioat.c
+++ b/sys/dev/ioat/ioat.c
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ MODULE_VERSION(ioat, 1);
  * Private data structures
  */
 static struct ioat_softc *ioat_channel[IOAT_MAX_CHANNELS];
-static int ioat_channel_index = 0;
-SYSCTL_INT(_hw_ioat, OID_AUTO, channels, CTLFLAG_RD, &ioat_channel_index, 0,
+static unsigned ioat_channel_index = 0;
+SYSCTL_UINT(_hw_ioat, OID_AUTO, channels, CTLFLAG_RD, &ioat_channel_index, 0,
     "Number of IOAT channels attached");
 
 static struct _pcsid
diff --git a/sys/dev/ioat/ioat_internal.h b/sys/dev/ioat/ioat_internal.h
index 322671c17b9..9d0708dbf77 100644
--- a/sys/dev/ioat/ioat_internal.h
+++ b/sys/dev/ioat/ioat_internal.h
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ struct ioat_softc {
 })
 
 	int			version;
-	int			chan_idx;
+	unsigned		chan_idx;
 
 	struct mtx		submit_lock;
 	device_t		device;