diff --git a/Zend/zend_virtual_cwd.c b/Zend/zend_virtual_cwd.c
index a596b7ca064..e3409897442 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_virtual_cwd.c
+++ b/Zend/zend_virtual_cwd.c
@@ -1394,7 +1394,7 @@ CWD_API int virtual_chdir(const char *path TSRMLS_DC) /* {{{ */
 
 CWD_API int virtual_chdir_file(const char *path, int (*p_chdir)(const char *path TSRMLS_DC) TSRMLS_DC) /* {{{ */
 {
-	size_t length = strlen(path);
+	int length = strlen(path);
 	char *temp;
 	int retval;
 	ALLOCA_FLAG(use_heap)