diff --git a/board/mpl/vcma9/vcma9.c b/board/mpl/vcma9/vcma9.c
index 45ab6548f607746554dabbfb213b6eb7054900d7..a4c463a31444d9030dd09e611c22774a8e89991c 100644
--- a/board/mpl/vcma9/vcma9.c
+++ b/board/mpl/vcma9/vcma9.c
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ int dram_init(void)
 
 int checkboard(void)
 {
-	unsigned char s[50];
+	char s[50];
 	int i;
 	backup_t *b = (backup_t *) s;
 
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ int overwrite_console(void)
 ************************************************************************/
 void print_vcma9_info(void)
 {
-	unsigned char s[50];
+	char s[50];
 	int i;
 
 	if ((i = getenv_r("serial#", s, 32)) < 0) {