diff --git a/src/gdd/gdd.h b/src/gdd/gdd.h
index 83519966f..1d47e3382 100644
--- a/src/gdd/gdd.h
+++ b/src/gdd/gdd.h
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ protected:
 
 	gdd_NEWDEL_DATA		// required for using generic new and remove
 private:
-	mutable aitUint16 ref_cnt;
+	mutable aitUint32 ref_cnt;
 	aitUint8 flags;
 
 	const gdd* indexDD (aitIndex index) const;