diff --git a/src/lib/cc/compat_compiler.h b/src/lib/cc/compat_compiler.h
index a8d1593214..92301449e8 100644
--- a/src/lib/cc/compat_compiler.h
+++ b/src/lib/cc/compat_compiler.h
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@
  * structure <b>st</b>.  Example:
  * <pre>
  *   struct a { int foo; int bar; } x;
- *   off_t bar_offset = offsetof(struct a, bar);
+ *   ptrdiff_t bar_offset = offsetof(struct a, bar);
  *   int *bar_p = STRUCT_VAR_P(&x, bar_offset);
  *   *bar_p = 3;
  * </pre>