diff --git a/include/osg/VertexArrayState b/include/osg/VertexArrayState
index fd068ca0d..2dfe4ed41 100644
--- a/include/osg/VertexArrayState
+++ b/include/osg/VertexArrayState
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ public:
 
         inline void unbindVertexArrayObject() const { _ext->glBindVertexArray (0); }
 
-        GLint getVertexArrayObject() const { return _vertexArrayObject; }
+        GLuint getVertexArrayObject() const { return _vertexArrayObject; }
 
 
         void setRequiresSetArrays(bool flag) { _requiresSetArrays = flag; }