diff --git a/server/display-channel.h b/server/display-channel.h
index 715ad1a5..5ecc5c32 100644
--- a/server/display-channel.h
+++ b/server/display-channel.h
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ typedef struct DependItem {
 } DependItem;
 
 struct Drawable {
-    uint8_t refs;
+    uint32_t refs;
     RingItem surface_list_link;
     RingItem list_link;
     DrawItem tree_item;