diff --git a/src/r_patch.c b/src/r_patch.c
index 9dcf59024..e93d8e04f 100644
--- a/src/r_patch.c
+++ b/src/r_patch.c
@@ -787,7 +787,7 @@ static void R_ParseSpriteInfoFrame(spriteinfo_t *info)
 	char *sprinfoToken;
 	size_t sprinfoTokenLength;
 	char *frameChar = NULL;
-	UINT8 frameFrame = -1;
+	UINT8 frameFrame = 0xFF;
 #ifdef ROTSPRITE
 	INT16 frameXPivot = 0;
 	INT16 frameYPivot = 0;