diff --git a/src/repository.h b/src/repository.h
index 4af062e97..4f4a4a863 100644
--- a/src/repository.h
+++ b/src/repository.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ struct git_object {
 	git_repository *repo;
 	git_odb_source source;
 	unsigned short refcount;
-	short in_memory:1, modified:1;
+	unsigned char in_memory, modified;
 };
 
 struct git_repository {