diff --git a/include/prototypes.h b/include/prototypes.h
index ec9f8807..b3807331 100644
--- a/include/prototypes.h
+++ b/include/prototypes.h
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ extern int load_it(struct shpstr *, struct sctstr *,
 extern void unload_it(struct shpstr *);
 extern void auto_fuel_ship(struct shpstr *);
 /* nxtitemp.c */
-extern s_char *nxtitemp(struct nstr_item *);
+extern void *nxtitemp(struct nstr_item *);
 /* plague.c */
 extern void do_plague(struct sctstr *, struct natstr *, int);
 extern int plague_people(struct natstr *, short *, int *, int *, int);
diff --git a/src/lib/update/nxtitemp.c b/src/lib/update/nxtitemp.c
index be764284..67d7c1d9 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/nxtitemp.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/nxtitemp.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 #include "gen.h"
 #include "common.h"
 
-s_char *
+void *
 nxtitemp(struct nstr_item *np)
 {
     struct genitem *gp;
@@ -106,5 +106,5 @@ nxtitemp(struct nstr_item *np)
 		selected = 0;
 	}
     } while (!selected);
-    return (s_char *)gp;
+    return gp;
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/update/revolt.c b/src/lib/update/revolt.c
index 8fc1e59c..50a725ef 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/revolt.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/revolt.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ guerrilla(struct sctstr *sp)
 
     snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
 
-    while (NULL != (lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni))) {
+    while (NULL != (lp = nxtitemp(&ni))) {
 	if (lp->lnd_own != sp->sct_own)
 	    continue;
 
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ take_casualties(struct sctstr *sp, int mc)
      * Try not to kill any unit.
      */
     snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
-    while (NULL != (lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni))) {
+    while (NULL != (lp = nxtitemp(&ni))) {
 	nunits++;
 	if (lchr[(int)lp->lnd_type].l_flags & L_SECURITY)
 	    nunits++;
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ take_casualties(struct sctstr *sp, int mc)
 
     /* kill some security troops */
     snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
-    while (NULL != (lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni))) {
+    while (NULL != (lp = nxtitemp(&ni))) {
 	if (!(lchr[(int)lp->lnd_type].l_flags & L_SECURITY))
 	    continue;
 
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ take_casualties(struct sctstr *sp, int mc)
 
     /* kill some normal troops */
     snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
-    while (NULL != (lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni))) {
+    while (NULL != (lp = nxtitemp(&ni))) {
 	if (lchr[(int)lp->lnd_type].l_flags & L_SECURITY)
 	    continue;
 
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ take_casualties(struct sctstr *sp, int mc)
     /* Hmm.. still some left.. kill off units now */
     /* kill some normal troops */
     snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
-    while (NULL != (lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni))) {
+    while (NULL != (lp = nxtitemp(&ni))) {
 	if (lchr[(int)lp->lnd_type].l_flags & L_SECURITY)
 	    continue;
 
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ take_casualties(struct sctstr *sp, int mc)
     /* Hmm.. still some left.. kill off units now */
     /* kill some security troops */
     snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, sp->sct_x, sp->sct_y);
-    while (NULL != (lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni))) {
+    while (NULL != (lp = nxtitemp(&ni))) {
 	if (!(lchr[(int)lp->lnd_type].l_flags & L_SECURITY))
 	    continue;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/update/ship.c b/src/lib/update/ship.c
index d921f744..8f4ce632 100644
--- a/src/lib/update/ship.c
+++ b/src/lib/update/ship.c
@@ -435,8 +435,7 @@ feed_ship(struct shpstr *sp, int etus, int *needed, int doit)
 /* doit - only steal food from land units during the update */
     if (ifood_eaten > sp->shp_item[I_FOOD] && sp->shp_nland > 0 && doit) {
 	snxtitem_all(&ni, EF_LAND);
-	while ((lp = (struct lndstr *)nxtitemp(&ni)) &&
-	       ifood_eaten > sp->shp_item[I_FOOD]) {
+	while ((lp = nxtitemp(&ni)) && ifood_eaten > sp->shp_item[I_FOOD]) {
 	    if (lp->lnd_ship != sp->shp_uid)
 		continue;
 	    need = ifood_eaten - sp->shp_item[I_FOOD];