diff --git a/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.cpp b/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.cpp
index d32d1bfe5b..35c92c8f52 100644
--- a/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.cpp
+++ b/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ status_t
 BRawNetBuffer::ReadString(BString& string)
 {
 	string = "";
-	size_t readed = _ReadStringAt(string, fReadPosition);
+	int32 readed = _ReadStringAt(string, fReadPosition);
 	if (readed < 0)
 		return B_ERROR;
 	fReadPosition += readed;
@@ -122,13 +122,13 @@ BRawNetBuffer::_Init(const void* buf, size_t size)
 }
 
 
-size_t
+int32
 BRawNetBuffer::_ReadStringAt(BString& string, off_t pos)
 {
 	if (pos >= fBuffer.BufferLength())
 		return -1;
 
-	size_t readed = 0;
+	int32 readed = 0;
 	char* buffer = (char*)fBuffer.Buffer();
 	buffer = &buffer[pos];
 	// if the string is compressed we have to follow the links to the
diff --git a/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.h b/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.h
index 3f26be6ef2..51cf75bfb0 100644
--- a/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.h
+++ b/src/preferences/mail/DNSQuery.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ public:
 
 private:
 		void			_Init(const void* buf, size_t size);
-		size_t			_ReadStringAt(BString& string, off_t pos);
+		int32			_ReadStringAt(BString& string, off_t pos);
 
 		off_t 			fWritePosition;
 		off_t 			fReadPosition;