diff --git a/src/lib/protocols/kerberos.c b/src/lib/protocols/kerberos.c
index 68dda46c952..e8f466ebf9c 100644
--- a/src/lib/protocols/kerberos.c
+++ b/src/lib/protocols/kerberos.c
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ static void ndpi_search_kerberos(struct ndpi_detection_module_struct *ndpi_struc
 	      || (packet->payload[koffset] == 0x1E)
 	      || (packet->payload[koffset] == 0x0D)
 	      || (packet->payload[koffset] == 0x0E))) {
-	    u_int16_t koffsetp, body_offset = 0, pad_len;
+	    u_int32_t koffsetp, body_offset = 0, pad_len;
 	    u_int8_t msg_type = packet->payload[koffset];
 
 #ifdef KERBEROS_DEBUG