diff --git a/src/target/target.c b/src/target/target.c
index 3a5651309..35c5be8f6 100644
--- a/src/target/target.c
+++ b/src/target/target.c
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ static struct target_timer_callback *target_timer_callbacks;
 static int64_t target_timer_next_event_value;
 static LIST_HEAD(target_reset_callback_list);
 static LIST_HEAD(target_trace_callback_list);
-static const int polling_interval = TARGET_DEFAULT_POLLING_INTERVAL;
+static const unsigned int polling_interval = TARGET_DEFAULT_POLLING_INTERVAL;
 static LIST_HEAD(empty_smp_targets);
 
 static const struct jim_nvp nvp_assert[] = {