diff --git a/include/boost/detail/sp_counted_base_gcc_x86.hpp b/include/boost/detail/sp_counted_base_gcc_x86.hpp
index 51c7891..1c94d4f 100644
--- a/include/boost/detail/sp_counted_base_gcc_x86.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/detail/sp_counted_base_gcc_x86.hpp
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ public:
 
     long use_count() const // nothrow
     {
-        return static_cast<long const volatile &>( use_count_ );
+        return static_cast<int const volatile &>( use_count_ );
     }
 };