diff --git a/kernel/audit.c b/kernel/audit.c
index f1ca116..92c463d 100644
--- a/kernel/audit.c
+++ b/kernel/audit.c
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ static atomic_t    audit_lost = ATOMIC_INIT(0);
 
 /* The netlink socket. */
 static struct sock *audit_sock;
-static int audit_net_id;
+static unsigned int audit_net_id;
 
 /* Hash for inode-based rules */
 struct list_head audit_inode_hash[AUDIT_INODE_BUCKETS];