diff --git a/include/netlink/route/link.h b/include/netlink/route/link.h
index dcd32f3..6a9d8de 100644
--- a/include/netlink/route/link.h
+++ b/include/netlink/route/link.h
@@ -114,10 +114,10 @@ extern int	rtnl_link_str2stat(const char *);
 extern char *	rtnl_link_flags2str(int, char *, size_t);
 extern int	rtnl_link_str2flags(const char *);
 
-extern char *	rtnl_link_operstate2str(int, char *, size_t);
+extern char *	rtnl_link_operstate2str(uint8_t, char *, size_t);
 extern int	rtnl_link_str2operstate(const char *);
 
-extern char *	rtnl_link_mode2str(int, char *, size_t);
+extern char *	rtnl_link_mode2str(uint8_t, char *, size_t);
 extern int	rtnl_link_str2mode(const char *);
 
 /* Access Functions */
diff --git a/lib/route/link.c b/lib/route/link.c
index bfb4150..3f0109f 100644
--- a/lib/route/link.c
+++ b/lib/route/link.c
@@ -1351,7 +1351,7 @@ static const struct trans_tbl link_operstates[] = {
 	__ADD(IF_OPER_UP, up)
 };
 
-char *rtnl_link_operstate2str(int st, char *buf, size_t len)
+char *rtnl_link_operstate2str(uint8_t st, char *buf, size_t len)
 {
 	return __type2str(st, buf, len, link_operstates,
 			  ARRAY_SIZE(link_operstates));
@@ -1375,7 +1375,7 @@ static const struct trans_tbl link_modes[] = {
 	__ADD(IF_LINK_MODE_DORMANT, dormant)
 };
 
-char *rtnl_link_mode2str(int st, char *buf, size_t len)
+char *rtnl_link_mode2str(uint8_t st, char *buf, size_t len)
 {
 	return __type2str(st, buf, len, link_modes, ARRAY_SIZE(link_modes));
 }