diff --git a/include/item.h b/include/item.h
index 6392f840..65f22809 100644
--- a/include/item.h
+++ b/include/item.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ typedef enum {
 } ATTRIBUTE((packed)) i_type;
 
 struct ichrstr {
-    int i_mnem;			/* usually the initial letter */
+    char i_mnem;		/* usually the initial letter */
     i_type i_vtype;		/* var type */
     int i_value;		/* mortgage value */
     int i_sell;			/* can this be sold? */
diff --git a/src/lib/global/nsc.c b/src/lib/global/nsc.c
index 0db0792a..d38f44af 100644
--- a/src/lib/global/nsc.c
+++ b/src/lib/global/nsc.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ struct castr ichr_ca[] = {
     {NSC_SITYPE(i_type), 0, 0, offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_vtype), "vtype",
      EF_ITEM},
     {NSC_STRING, 0, 0, offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_name), "name", EF_BAD},
-    {NSC_INT, NSC_CONST, 0, offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_mnem), "mnem", EF_BAD},
+    {NSC_STRINGY, NSC_CONST, 1, offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_mnem), "mnem", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_INT, 0, 0, offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_value), "value", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_INT, 0, 0, offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_sell), "sell", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_INT, 0, 0, offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_lbs), "lbs", EF_BAD},