diff --git a/src/delete.c b/src/delete.c
index 336b5043a8abefd5287285618f45ab67aa38e03a..4fc4d138360234ff47beb1022db9cecb186fd94c 100644
--- a/src/delete.c
+++ b/src/delete.c
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@
 
 
 static struct dir *root, *nextsel, *curdir;
-static char noconfirm = 0, ignoreerr = 0, state, seloption;
+static char noconfirm = 0, ignoreerr = 0, state;
+static signed char seloption;
 static int lasterrno;