diff --git a/src/NetworkMessage.h b/src/NetworkMessage.h
index 37f56b4..1b57676 100644
--- a/src/NetworkMessage.h
+++ b/src/NetworkMessage.h
@@ -47,8 +47,9 @@ namespace Feather
         }
 
         template <typename Int = int32_t>
-        inline void WriteVarInt(Int value)
+        inline void WriteVarInt(Int val)
         {
+            int32_t value = static_cast<int32_t>(val);
             do {
                 uint8_t temp = uint8_t(value & 0b01111111);
                 value >>= 7;