diff --git a/src/lib/common/nsc.c b/src/lib/common/nsc.c
index c3c64356..0178e822 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/nsc.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/nsc.c
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ struct castr trade_ca[] = {
     {"timestamp", fldoff(trd_timestamp), NSC_TIME, 0, NULL,
      EF_BAD, NSC_EXTRA},
     {"owner", fldoff(trd_owner), NSC_NATID, 0, NULL, EF_NATION, 0},
-    {"type", fldoff(trd_type), NSC_CHAR, 0, NULL, EF_TABLE, 0},
+    {"type", fldoff(trd_type), NSC_SHORT, 0, NULL, EF_TABLE, 0},
     /* unitid's ca_table given by type, but can't express that: */
     {"unitid", fldoff(trd_unitid), NSC_INT, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0},
     {"price", fldoff(trd_price), NSC_INT, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0},
diff --git a/tests/smoke/smoke.out b/tests/smoke/smoke.out
index d6a24673..d1df77f8 100644
--- a/tests/smoke/smoke.out
+++ b/tests/smoke/smoke.out
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ Player 00 Turn 00 starting
 [0:640] Command : XDUMP meta trade 0
 "uid" 8 0 0 7
 "owner" 5 0 0 9
-"type" 4 0 0 27
+"type" 6 0 0 27
 "unitid" 8 0 0 -1
 "price" 8 0 0 -1
 "maxbidder" 8 0 0 9
@@ -1161,7 +1161,7 @@ CENSUS                   del dst
 [0:636] Command : XDUMP meta trade 0
 "uid" 8 0 0 7
 "owner" 5 0 0 9
-"type" 4 0 0 27
+"type" 6 0 0 27
 "unitid" 8 0 0 -1
 "price" 8 0 0 -1
 "maxbidder" 8 0 0 9