diff --git a/common/usb.c b/common/usb.c
index 1bb9438..4136f8d 100644
--- a/common/usb.c
+++ b/common/usb.c
@@ -925,7 +925,9 @@
 	}
 	descriptor = (struct usb_hub_descriptor *)buffer;
 
-	if (descriptor->bLength > USB_BUFSIZ) {
+	/* silence compiler warning if USB_BUFSIZ is > 256 [= sizeof(char)] */
+	i = descriptor->bLength;
+	if (i > USB_BUFSIZ) {
 		USB_HUB_PRINTF("usb_hub_configure: failed to get hub descriptor - too long: %d\N",
 			descriptor->bLength);
 		return -1;