diff --git a/include/libwebsockets/lws-network-helper.h b/include/libwebsockets/lws-network-helper.h
index 20a322530..09308b8b2 100644
--- a/include/libwebsockets/lws-network-helper.h
+++ b/include/libwebsockets/lws-network-helper.h
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@
 #include <lwip/sockets.h>
 #endif
 
-typedef uint8_t lws_route_uidx_t;
+/* cope with large amounts of route information */
+typedef uint16_t lws_route_uidx_t;
 
 typedef struct lws_dns_score {
 	uint8_t precedence;
diff --git a/lib/core-net/route.c b/lib/core-net/route.c
index 270ed863d..d94ea5a04 100644
--- a/lib/core-net/route.c
+++ b/lib/core-net/route.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ _lws_routing_table_dump(struct lws_context *cx)
 lws_route_uidx_t
 _lws_route_get_uidx(struct lws_context *cx)
 {
-	uint8_t ou;
+	lws_route_uidx_t ou;
 
 	if (!cx->route_uidx)
 		cx->route_uidx++;