diff --git a/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.c b/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.c
index bd3d90d..47f3097 100644
--- a/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.c
+++ b/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.c
@@ -1150,7 +1150,7 @@ void PrintLWSessionCache(Stream5SessionCache *sessionCache)
 int
 Stream5SetRuntimeConfiguration(
         Stream5LWSession *lwssn,
-        char protocol
+        uint8_t protocol
         )
 {
     Stream5Config *pPolicyConfig;
diff --git a/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.h b/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.h
index c388eed..29be798 100644
--- a/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.h
+++ b/src/preprocessors/Stream5/snort_stream5_session.h
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ void s5PrintPortFilter(
 int
 Stream5SetRuntimeConfiguration(
         Stream5LWSession *lwssn,
-        char protocol
+        uint8_t protocol
         );
 
 #endif /* SNORT_STREAM5_SESSION_H_ */
diff --git a/src/preprocessors/Stream5/stream5_common.h b/src/preprocessors/Stream5/stream5_common.h
index 76e6181..e098968 100644
--- a/src/preprocessors/Stream5/stream5_common.h
+++ b/src/preprocessors/Stream5/stream5_common.h
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ typedef struct _Stream5LWSession
     int16_t    application_protocol;
 #endif
 
-    char       protocol;
+    uint8_t    protocol;
     char       direction;
     char       ignore_direction; /* flag to ignore traffic on this session */
 
diff --git a/src/preprocessors/spp_stream5.c b/src/preprocessors/spp_stream5.c
index 1252de0..968542e 100644
--- a/src/preprocessors/spp_stream5.c
+++ b/src/preprocessors/spp_stream5.c
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ static int Stream5IgnoreChannel(
                     uint16_t srcPort,
                     snort_ip_p dstIP,
                     uint16_t dstPort,
-                    char protocol,
+                    uint8_t protocol,
                     char direction,
                     char flags);
 static int Stream5GetIgnoreDirection(
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ static int Stream5SetApplicationProtocolIdExpected(
                     uint16_t srcPort,
                     snort_ip_p dstIP,
                     uint16_t dstPort,
-                    char protocol,
+                    uint8_t protocol,
                     int16_t protoId);
 #endif
 static void s5SetPortFilterStatus(
@@ -1577,7 +1577,7 @@ static int Stream5IgnoreChannel(
                     uint16_t srcPort,
                     snort_ip_p      dstIP,
                     uint16_t dstPort,
-                    char protocol,
+                    uint8_t protocol,
                     char direction,
                     char flags)
 {
@@ -2189,7 +2189,7 @@ static int Stream5SetApplicationProtocolIdExpected(
                     uint16_t srcPort,
                     snort_ip_p      dstIP,
                     uint16_t dstPort,
-                    char protocol,
+                    uint8_t protocol,
                     int16_t protoId)
 {
     return IgnoreChannel(srcIP, srcPort, dstIP, dstPort,
diff --git a/src/preprocessors/stream_api.h b/src/preprocessors/stream_api.h
index 380ad5f..ae79204 100644
--- a/src/preprocessors/stream_api.h
+++ b/src/preprocessors/stream_api.h
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ typedef struct _stream_api
      *     -1 on failure
      */
     int (*ignore_session)(snort_ip_p, uint16_t, snort_ip_p, uint16_t,
-                          char, char, char);
+                          uint8_t, char, char);
 
     /* Get direction that data is being ignored.
      *
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ typedef struct _stream_api
      *     -1 on failure
      */
     int (*set_application_protocol_id_expected)(snort_ip_p, uint16_t, snort_ip_p, uint16_t,
-                          char, int16_t);
+                          uint8_t, int16_t);
 #endif
 
     // register for stateful scanning of in-order payload to determine flush points
diff --git a/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.c b/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.c
index f70f797..af0da32 100644
--- a/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.c
+++ b/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.c
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ typedef struct _IgnoreNode
     short port1;
     snort_ip ip2;
     short port2;
-    char protocol;
+    uint8_t protocol;
     time_t expires;
     int direction;
     int numOccurances;
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ typedef struct _IgnoreHashKey
     snort_ip ip2;
     tSfPolicyId policyId;
     short port;
-    char protocol;
+    uint8_t protocol;
     char pad;
 } IgnoreHashKey;
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ static SFGHASH *channelHash = NULL;
 
 int IgnoreChannel(snort_ip_p cliIP, uint16_t cliPort,
                   snort_ip_p srvIP, uint16_t srvPort,
-                  char protocol, char direction, char flags,
+                  uint8_t protocol, char direction, char flags,
                   uint32_t timeout, int16_t appId)
 {
     IgnoreHashKey hashKey;
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ int isIgnored(Packet *p)
 {
     snort_ip_p srcIP, dstIP;
     short srcPort, dstPort;
-    char protocol;
+    uint8_t protocol;
 
     IgnoreHashKey hashKey;
     int retVal = 0;
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ char CheckIgnoreChannel(Packet *p, int16_t *appId)
 {
     snort_ip_p srcIP, dstIP;
     short srcPort, dstPort;
-    char protocol;
+    uint8_t protocol;
 
     IgnoreHashKey hashKey;
     time_t now;
diff --git a/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.h b/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.h
index 38a341a..e67241e 100644
--- a/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.h
+++ b/src/preprocessors/stream_ignore.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 
 int IgnoreChannel(snort_ip_p cliIP, uint16_t cliPort,
                   snort_ip_p srvIP, uint16_t srvPort,
-                  char protocol, char direction, char flags,
+                  uint8_t protocol, char direction, char flags,
                   uint32_t timeout, int16_t appId);
 
 char CheckIgnoreChannel(Packet *, int16_t *appId);