diff --git a/epan/dissectors/packet-kafka.c b/epan/dissectors/packet-kafka.c
index 4e03cac2d3..555e884bfb 100644
--- a/epan/dissectors/packet-kafka.c
+++ b/epan/dissectors/packet-kafka.c
@@ -1148,7 +1148,7 @@ proto_register_kafka(void)
         },
         { &hf_kafka_message_codec,
             { "Compression Codec", "kafka.message_codec",
-               FT_INT8, BASE_DEC, VALS(kafka_codecs), 0x03,
+               FT_UINT8, BASE_DEC, VALS(kafka_codecs), 0x03,
                NULL, HFILL }
         },
         { &hf_kafka_message_key,