diff --git a/src/or/main.c b/src/or/main.c
index 010e7200c..f1b830830 100644
--- a/src/or/main.c
+++ b/src/or/main.c
@@ -2011,7 +2011,7 @@ save_state_callback(time_t now, const or_options_t *options)
      */
     return PERIODIC_EVENT_NO_UPDATE;
   } else {
-    return next_write - now;
+    return (int)(next_write - now);
   }
 }