diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 81e8c88e4..6ccb76422 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -493,10 +493,10 @@ struct ref {
 	struct ref *next;
 	unsigned char old_sha1[20];
 	unsigned char new_sha1[20];
-	unsigned char force : 1;
-	unsigned char merge : 1;
-	unsigned char nonfastforward : 1;
-	unsigned char deletion : 1;
+	unsigned int force:1,
+		merge:1,
+		nonfastforward:1,
+		deletion:1;
 	enum {
 		REF_STATUS_NONE = 0,
 		REF_STATUS_OK,