diff --git a/include/sect.h b/include/sect.h
index 62e634ce..b86b5372 100644
--- a/include/sect.h
+++ b/include/sect.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ struct sctstr {
     coord sct_y;		/* y coord of sector */
     signed char sct_type;	/* sector type */
     /* end of part matching struct empobj */
-    unsigned char sct_effic;	/* 0% to 100% */
+    signed char sct_effic;	/* 0% to 100% */
     short sct_mobil;		/* mobility units */
     unsigned char sct_loyal;	/* updates until civilans "converted" */
     unsigned char sct_terr;	/* territory 0 id # of sector */
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/edit.c b/src/lib/commands/edit.c
index 21eec43d..5d9c767a 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/edit.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/edit.c
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ doland(char op, int arg, char *p, struct sctstr *sect)
     case 'e':
 	new = errcheck(arg, 0, 100);
 	noise(sect, "Efficiency", sect->sct_effic, new);
-	sect->sct_effic = (unsigned char)new;
+	sect->sct_effic = new;
 	break;
     case 'm':
 	new = errcheck(arg, -127, 255);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/setsect.c b/src/lib/commands/setsect.c
index eae4344a..92be99cf 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/setsect.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/setsect.c
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ setsector(void)
 		current = 100;
 	    pr("Efficiency in %s changed to %d.\n",
 	       xyas(sect.sct_x, sect.sct_y, player->cnum), current);
-	    sect.sct_effic = (unsigned char)current;
+	    sect.sct_effic = current;
 	    putsect(&sect);
 	}
 	break;
diff --git a/src/lib/common/nsc.c b/src/lib/common/nsc.c
index 1281459a..97de2ef9 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/nsc.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/nsc.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ struct castr sect_ca[] = {
     {"xloc", fldoff(sct_x), NSC_XCOORD, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, NSC_CONST},
     {"yloc", fldoff(sct_y), NSC_YCOORD, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, NSC_CONST},
     {"des", fldoff(sct_type), NSC_CHAR, 0, NULL, EF_SECTOR_CHR, 0},
-    {"effic", fldoff(sct_effic), NSC_UCHAR, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0},
+    {"effic", fldoff(sct_effic), NSC_CHAR, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0},
     {"mobil", fldoff(sct_mobil), NSC_SHORT, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0},
     {"loyal", fldoff(sct_loyal), NSC_UCHAR, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, NSC_DEITY},
     {"terr", 0, NSC_UCHAR, 0, nsc_sct_terr, EF_BAD, NSC_EXTRA},