diff --git a/utils/tex2rtf/src/tex2any.cpp b/utils/tex2rtf/src/tex2any.cpp
index aa2f7ea449..33db0d44bf 100644
--- a/utils/tex2rtf/src/tex2any.cpp
+++ b/utils/tex2rtf/src/tex2any.cpp
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ bool read_a_line(wxChar *buf)
   int ch = -2;
   unsigned long bufIndex = 0;
   buf[0] = 0;
-  char lastChar = _T(' ');
+  int lastChar;
 
   while (ch != EOF && ch != 10)
   {