diff --git a/include/tel.h b/include/tel.h
index 272bf27b..aa31c3c8 100644
--- a/include/tel.h
+++ b/include/tel.h
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@
 
 struct telstr {
     natid tel_from;		/* sender */
-    signed char tel_type;
-    long tel_length;		/* how long */
+    unsigned char tel_type;
+    unsigned tel_length;	/* how long */
     time_t tel_date;		/* when sent */
 };
 
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/rea.c b/src/lib/commands/rea.c
index be79809e..b53c8ba9 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/rea.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/rea.c
@@ -114,11 +114,7 @@ rea(void)
     lasttype = -1;
     while (fread(&tgm, sizeof(tgm), 1, telfp) == 1) {
 	readit = 1;
-	if (tgm.tel_length < 0) {
-	    logerror("bad telegram file header in %s", mbox);
-	    break;
-	}
-	if (tgm.tel_type < 0 || tgm.tel_type > TEL_LAST) {
+	if (tgm.tel_type > TEL_LAST) {
 	    pr("Bad telegram header.  Skipping telegram...\n");
 	    readit = 0;
 	    goto skip;
@@ -146,7 +142,7 @@ rea(void)
 	    pr("\n> ");
 	    lastcnum = tgm.tel_from;
 	    lasttype = tgm.tel_type;
-	    pr("%s ", telnames[(int)tgm.tel_type]);
+	    pr("%s ", telnames[tgm.tel_type]);
 	    if ((tgm.tel_type == TEL_NORM) ||
 		(tgm.tel_type == TEL_ANNOUNCE) ||
 		(tgm.tel_type == TEL_BULLETIN))
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/turn.c b/src/lib/commands/turn.c
index eef95bba..752001ed 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/turn.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/turn.c
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ turn(void)
     char buf[1024];
     char msgbuf[MAXTELSIZE + 1]; /* UTF-8 */
     char *msgfilepath;
+    int len;
 
     p = getstarg(player->argp[1], "on, off or motd? ", buf);
     if (!p)
@@ -76,14 +77,14 @@ turn(void)
     else
 	pr("Enter a new message of the day.\n");
 
-    time(&tgm.tel_date);
-    tgm.tel_length = getele("The World", msgbuf);
-    if (tgm.tel_length < 0) {
+    len = getele("The World", msgbuf);
+    if (len < 0) {
 	pr("Ignored\n");
 	if (msgfilepath == downfil)
 	    pr("NOT disabling logins.\n");
 	return RET_FAIL;
-    } else if (tgm.tel_length == 0) {
+    }
+    if (len == 0) {
 	if (msgfilepath == motdfil) {
 	    pr("Removing exsting motd.\n");
 	    if ((unlink(msgfilepath) == -1) && (errno != ENOENT)) {
@@ -108,6 +109,8 @@ turn(void)
 	pr("Logins disabled.\n");
 
     memset(&tgm, 0, sizeof(tgm));
+    time(&tgm.tel_date);
+    tgm.tel_length = len;
     if ((fwrite(&tgm, sizeof(tgm), 1, fptr) != 1) ||
 	(fwrite(msgbuf, tgm.tel_length, 1, fptr) != 1)) {
 	fclose(fptr);
diff --git a/src/lib/player/player.c b/src/lib/player/player.c
index 29a2692f..8a95d7dc 100644
--- a/src/lib/player/player.c
+++ b/src/lib/player/player.c
@@ -284,14 +284,14 @@ show_first_tel(char *fname)
 	fclose(fp);
 	return -1;
     }
-    if (tgm.tel_length >= (long)sizeof(buf)) {
-	logerror("text length (%ld) is too long for login message (%s)",
-		 tgm.tel_length, fname);
+    if (tgm.tel_length >= sizeof(buf)) {
+	logerror("text length (%u) is too long for login message (motdfil)",
+		 tgm.tel_length);
 	fclose(fp);
 	return -1;
     }
     if (fread(buf, tgm.tel_length, 1, fp) != 1) {
-	logerror("bad length %ld on login message", tgm.tel_length);
+	logerror("bad length %u on login message", tgm.tel_length);
 	fclose(fp);
 	return -1;
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/wu.c b/src/lib/subs/wu.c
index ee7b7407..d880cd53 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/wu.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/wu.c
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ wu(natid from, natid to, char *format, ...)
 int
 typed_wu(natid from, natid to, char *message, int type)
 {
-    int len;
+    size_t len;
     struct telstr tel;
     struct natstr *np;
     struct iovec iov[2];
diff --git a/src/lib/update/anno.c b/src/lib/update/anno.c
index 94dff3fb..f40c6e50 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/anno.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/anno.c
@@ -118,14 +118,13 @@ copy_and_expire(FILE *annfp, FILE *tmpfp, char *tmp_filename,
 
     while (fread(&tgm, sizeof(tgm), 1, annfp) == 1) {
 	writeit = 1;
-	if (tgm.tel_length < 0 || tgm.tel_length > MAXTELSIZE) {
-	    logerror("bad telegram file header (length=%ld)",
+	if (tgm.tel_length > MAXTELSIZE) {
+	    logerror("bad telegram file header (length=%d)",
 		     tgm.tel_length);
 	    return 0;
 	}
-	if (tgm.tel_type < 0 || tgm.tel_type > TEL_LAST) {
-	    logerror("bad telegram file header (type=%d)",
-		     tgm.tel_type);
+	if (tgm.tel_type > TEL_LAST) {
+	    logerror("bad telegram file header (type=%d)", tgm.tel_type);
 	    return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -146,15 +145,14 @@ copy_and_expire(FILE *annfp, FILE *tmpfp, char *tmp_filename,
 	    ++saved;
 	} else
 	    ++deleted;
-	if (fread(message, 1, tgm.tel_length, annfp) !=
-	    (size_t)tgm.tel_length) {
+	if (fread(message, 1, tgm.tel_length, annfp) != tgm.tel_length) {
 	    logerror("error reading body from telegram file %s",
 		     annfil);
 	    return 0;
 	}
 	if (writeit) {
-	    if (fwrite(message, 1, tgm.tel_length, tmpfp) !=
-		(size_t)tgm.tel_length) {
+	    if (fwrite(message, 1, tgm.tel_length, tmpfp)
+		!= tgm.tel_length) {
 		logerror("error writing body to temporary telegram "
 			 "file %s", tmp_filename);
 		return 0;