diff --git a/oox/inc/oox/drawingml/shape.hxx b/oox/inc/oox/drawingml/shape.hxx
index 94fb6a4f29fc..f4f5a5ee68fe 100644
--- a/oox/inc/oox/drawingml/shape.hxx
+++ b/oox/inc/oox/drawingml/shape.hxx
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ public:
     void                            setName( const rtl::OUString& rName ) { msName = rName; }
     ::rtl::OUString                 getName( ) { return msName; }
     void                            setId( const rtl::OUString& rId ) { msId = rId; }
-    void                            setSubType( sal_uInt32 nSubType ) { mnSubType = nSubType; }
+    void                            setSubType( sal_Int32 nSubType ) { mnSubType = nSubType; }
     sal_Int32                       getSubType() const { return mnSubType; }
     void                            setSubTypeIndex( sal_uInt32 nSubTypeIndex ) { mnSubTypeIndex = nSubTypeIndex; }
     sal_Int32                       getSubTypeIndex() const { return mnSubTypeIndex; }
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ protected:
     rtl::OUString       msServiceName;
     rtl::OUString       msName;
     rtl::OUString       msId;
-    sal_uInt32          mnSubType;      // if this type is not zero, then the shape is a placeholder
-    sal_uInt32          mnSubTypeIndex;
+    sal_Int32           mnSubType;      // if this type is not zero, then the shape is a placeholder
+    sal_Int32           mnSubTypeIndex;
 
     ShapeStyleRefMap   maShapeStyleRefs;