diff --git a/include/news.h b/include/news.h
index 46c76e9a..9e8416a2 100644
--- a/include/news.h
+++ b/include/news.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
  *     Dave Pare
  *     Thomas Ruschak
  *     Steve McClure
+ *     Markus Armbruster, 2004-2016
  */
 
 /*
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ struct nwsstr {
     natid nws_ano;		/* "actor" country # */
     unsigned char nws_vrb;	/* action (verb) */
     natid nws_vno;		/* "victim" country # */
-    signed char nws_ntm;	/* number of times */
+    unsigned short nws_ntm;	/* number of times */
     short nws_duration;		/* last time at nws_when + nws_duration */
     time_t nws_when;		/* time of action */
 };
diff --git a/src/lib/common/nsc.c b/src/lib/common/nsc.c
index 4f8662b9..507a8684 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/nsc.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/nsc.c
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ struct castr news_ca[] = {
     {"action", fldoff(nws_vrb), NSC_UCHAR, 0, NULL, EF_NEWS_CHR, 0,
      CA_DUMP},
     {"victim", fldoff(nws_vno), NSC_NATID, 0, NULL, EF_NATION, 0, CA_DUMP},
-    {"times", fldoff(nws_ntm), NSC_CHAR, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0, CA_DUMP},
+    {"times", fldoff(nws_ntm), NSC_USHORT, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0, CA_DUMP},
     {"duration", fldoff(nws_duration), NSC_SHORT, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0,
      CA_DUMP},
     {"time", fldoff(nws_when), NSC_TIME, 0, NULL, EF_BAD, 0, CA_DUMP},
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/nreport.c b/src/lib/subs/nreport.c
index 310ae705..1df7cbde 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/nreport.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/nreport.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
  *     Dave Pare, 1994
  *     Steve McClure, 1997
  *     Ron Koenderink, 2005
- *     Markus Armbruster, 2004-2012
+ *     Markus Armbruster, 2004-2016
  */
 
 #include <config.h>
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ ncache(int actor, int event, int victim, int times)
 	if (dur > minutes(5))
 	    continue;
 	if (np->news.nws_vrb == event && np->news.nws_vno == victim &&
-	    np->news.nws_ntm + times <= 127) {
+	    np->news.nws_ntm + times <= 65535) {
 	    np->news.nws_ntm += times;
 	    np->news.nws_duration = dur;
 	    return np;