diff --git a/src/target/target.c b/src/target/target.c
index c3a4ed6d27..281bbbd408 100644
--- a/src/target/target.c
+++ b/src/target/target.c
@@ -6007,7 +6007,7 @@ static int get_target_with_common_rtos_type(struct command_invocation *cmd,
 
 COMMAND_HANDLER(handle_target_smp)
 {
-	static int smp_group = 1;
+	static unsigned int smp_group = 1;
 
 	if (CMD_ARGC == 0) {
 		LOG_DEBUG("Empty SMP target");
diff --git a/src/target/target.h b/src/target/target.h
index d3077f5716..ecc8a90321 100644
--- a/src/target/target.h
+++ b/src/target/target.h
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ struct target {
 	bool rtos_auto_detect;				/* A flag that indicates that the RTOS has been specified as "auto"
 										 * and must be detected when symbols are offered */
 	struct backoff_timer backoff;
-	int smp;							/* Unique non-zero number for each SMP group */
+	unsigned int smp;					/* Unique non-zero number for each SMP group */
 	struct list_head *smp_targets;		/* list all targets in this smp group/cluster
 										 * The head of the list is shared between the
 										 * cluster, thus here there is a pointer */