diff --git a/utils.c b/utils.c
index 1353ea6..7743c2e 100644
--- a/utils.c
+++ b/utils.c
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ ensure_dir (const char *path,
 /* Sets errno on error (!= 0) */
 int
 mkdir_with_parents (const char *pathname,
-                    int         mode,
+                    mode_t      mode,
                     bool        create_last)
 {
   cleanup_free char *fn = NULL;
diff --git a/utils.h b/utils.h
index 37d8c7c..9191ecc 100644
--- a/utils.h
+++ b/utils.h
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ int   ensure_dir (const char *path,
                   mode_t      mode);
 int   get_file_mode (const char *pathname);
 int   mkdir_with_parents (const char *pathname,
-                          int         mode,
+                          mode_t      mode,
                           bool        create_last);
 void create_pid_socketpair (int sockets[2]);
 void send_pid_on_socket (int socket);