diff --git a/include/fluent-bit/flb_network.h b/include/fluent-bit/flb_network.h
index 4fb741527ec..900ec691cf4 100644
--- a/include/fluent-bit/flb_network.h
+++ b/include/fluent-bit/flb_network.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 /* Network connection setup */
 struct flb_net_setup {
     /* enable/disable keepalive support */
-    char keepalive;
+    int keepalive;
 
     /* max time in seconds that a keepalive connection can be idle */
     int keepalive_idle_timeout;