diff --git a/libavcodec/j2k_dwt.c b/libavcodec/j2k_dwt.c
index ab7a1ab757..48aa33735e 100644
--- a/libavcodec/j2k_dwt.c
+++ b/libavcodec/j2k_dwt.c
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ int ff_j2k_dwt_init(DWTContext *s, uint16_t border[2][2], int decomp_levels, int
     int i, j, lev = decomp_levels, maxlen,
         b[2][2];
 
-    if (decomp_levels >= FF_DWT_MAX_DECLVLS)
+    if ((unsigned)decomp_levels >= FF_DWT_MAX_DECLVLS)
         return AVERROR_INVALIDDATA;
     s->ndeclevels = decomp_levels;
     s->type = type;