diff --git a/src/platform/nm-linux-platform.c b/src/platform/nm-linux-platform.c
index 014cca71da..13eb1e3e34 100644
--- a/src/platform/nm-linux-platform.c
+++ b/src/platform/nm-linux-platform.c
@@ -726,9 +726,9 @@ _link_type_from_rtnl_type (const char *name) \
 	}
 
 	{
-		unsigned imin = 0;
-		unsigned imax = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1);
-		unsigned imid = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1) / 2;
+		int imin = 0;
+		int imax = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1);
+		int imid = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1) / 2;
 
 		for (;;) {
 			const int cmp = strcmp (link_descs[LIST[imid]].rtnl_type, name);
@@ -787,9 +787,9 @@ _link_type_from_devtype (const char *name) \
 	}
 
 	{
-		unsigned imin = 0;
-		unsigned imax = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1);
-		unsigned imid = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1) / 2;
+		int imin = 0;
+		int imax = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1);
+		int imid = (G_N_ELEMENTS (LIST) - 1) / 2;
 
 		for (;;) {
 			const int cmp = strcmp (link_descs[LIST[imid]].devtype, name);