diff --git a/drivers/firewire/fw-transaction.h b/drivers/firewire/fw-transaction.h
index 027f58ce81a..aed7dbb17cd 100644
--- a/drivers/firewire/fw-transaction.h
+++ b/drivers/firewire/fw-transaction.h
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ struct fw_card {
 	struct fw_node *local_node;
 	struct fw_node *root_node;
 	struct fw_node *irm_node;
-	int color;
+	u8 color; /* must be u8 to match the definition in struct fw_node */
 	int gap_count;
 	bool beta_repeaters_present;