diff --git a/migration/qemu-file.c b/migration/qemu-file.c
index 60f6345033..94d1069c8e 100644
--- a/migration/qemu-file.c
+++ b/migration/qemu-file.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ struct QEMUFile {
      * Maximum amount of data in bytes to transfer during one
      * rate limiting time window
      */
-    int64_t rate_limit_max;
+    uint64_t rate_limit_max;
     /*
      * Total amount of data in bytes queued for transfer
      * during this rate limiting time window
@@ -738,12 +738,12 @@ int qemu_file_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f)
     return 0;
 }
 
-int64_t qemu_file_get_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f)
+uint64_t qemu_file_get_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f)
 {
     return f->rate_limit_max;
 }
 
-void qemu_file_set_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f, int64_t limit)
+void qemu_file_set_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f, uint64_t limit)
 {
     /*
      * 'limit' is per second.  But we check it each 100 miliseconds.
diff --git a/migration/qemu-file.h b/migration/qemu-file.h
index 4ee58a87dd..13c7c78c0d 100644
--- a/migration/qemu-file.h
+++ b/migration/qemu-file.h
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ void qemu_file_reset_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f);
  * need to be applied to the rate limiting calcuations
  */
 void qemu_file_acct_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f, int64_t len);
-void qemu_file_set_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f, int64_t new_rate);
-int64_t qemu_file_get_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f);
+void qemu_file_set_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f, uint64_t new_rate);
+uint64_t qemu_file_get_rate_limit(QEMUFile *f);
 int qemu_file_get_error_obj(QEMUFile *f, Error **errp);
 int qemu_file_get_error_obj_any(QEMUFile *f1, QEMUFile *f2, Error **errp);
 void qemu_file_set_error_obj(QEMUFile *f, int ret, Error *err);