diff --git a/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.c b/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.c
index 6a4737ac66..1d86ef0145 100644
--- a/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.c
+++ b/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.c
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ rte_netmap_close(__rte_unused int fd)
 	return (rc);
 }
 
-int rte_netmap_ioctl(int fd, int op, void *param)
+int rte_netmap_ioctl(int fd, uint32_t op, void *param)
 {
 	int ret;
 
diff --git a/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.h b/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.h
index f8a7812264..3dc7a2f409 100644
--- a/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.h
+++ b/examples/netmap_compat/lib/compat_netmap.h
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ int rte_netmap_init_port(uint8_t portid,
 	const struct rte_netmap_port_conf *conf);
 
 int rte_netmap_close(int fd);
-int rte_netmap_ioctl(int fd, int op, void *param);
+int rte_netmap_ioctl(int fd, uint32_t op, void *param);
 int rte_netmap_open(const char *pathname, int flags);
 int rte_netmap_poll(struct pollfd *fds, nfds_t nfds, int timeout);
 void *rte_netmap_mmap(void *addr, size_t length, int prot, int flags, int fd,