diff --git a/changes/bug4554 b/changes/bug4554
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e4754c29e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug4554
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes:
+    - Fix a compile warning in tor_inet_pton(). Bugfix on 0.2.3.8-alpha;
+      fixes bug 4554.
+
diff --git a/src/common/compat.c b/src/common/compat.c
index 20c45af00b..9a2c9d764b 100644
--- a/src/common/compat.c
+++ b/src/common/compat.c
@@ -1733,7 +1733,7 @@ tor_inet_pton(int af, const char *src, void *dst)
         return 0;
       if (TOR_ISXDIGIT(*src)) {
         char *next;
-        int len;
+        ssize_t len;
         long r = strtol(src, &next, 16);
         tor_assert(next != NULL);
         tor_assert(next != src);