diff --git a/fs/btrfs/ctree.h b/fs/btrfs/ctree.h
index e5f9b96fc86f..09ee92d9670c 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/ctree.h
+++ b/fs/btrfs/ctree.h
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ struct btrfs_path {
 	int locks[BTRFS_MAX_LEVEL];
 	u8 reada;
 	/* keep some upper locks as we walk down */
-	int lowest_level;
+	u8 lowest_level;
 
 	/*
 	 * set by btrfs_split_item, tells search_slot to keep all locks