diff --git a/vpx_dsp/bitreader.h b/vpx_dsp/bitreader.h
index e817c8b0c..9a441b410 100644
--- a/vpx_dsp/bitreader.h
+++ b/vpx_dsp/bitreader.h
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static INLINE int vpx_read(vpx_reader *r, int prob) {
   }
 
   {
-    register unsigned int shift = vpx_norm[range];
+    register int shift = vpx_norm[range];
     range <<= shift;
     value <<= shift;
     count -= shift;
diff --git a/vpx_dsp/bitwriter.h b/vpx_dsp/bitwriter.h
index f6ca9b916..d904997af 100644
--- a/vpx_dsp/bitwriter.h
+++ b/vpx_dsp/bitwriter.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ static INLINE void vpx_write(vpx_writer *br, int bit, int probability) {
   int count = br->count;
   unsigned int range = br->range;
   unsigned int lowvalue = br->lowvalue;
-  register unsigned int shift;
+  register int shift;
 
   split = 1 + (((range - 1) * probability) >> 8);