diff --git a/src/d_netcmd.c b/src/d_netcmd.c
index b422c75f3..d3d69cfb4 100644
--- a/src/d_netcmd.c
+++ b/src/d_netcmd.c
@@ -1867,7 +1867,7 @@ static void SendNameAndColor(UINT8 n)
 	WRITEUINT32(p, (UINT32)player->availabilities);
 	WRITEUINT16(p, (UINT16)cv_playercolor[n].value);
 	WRITEUINT16(p, (UINT16)cv_skin[n].value);
-	WRITESINT8(p, (SINT8)cv_follower[n].value);
+	WRITEINT32(p, (INT32)cv_follower[n].value);
 	WRITEUINT16(p, (UINT16)cv_followercolor[n].value);
 
 	SendNetXCmdForPlayer(n, XD_NAMEANDCOLOR, buf, p - buf);
@@ -1879,7 +1879,7 @@ static void Got_NameAndColor(UINT8 **cp, INT32 playernum)
 	char name[MAXPLAYERNAME+1];
 	UINT16 color, followercolor;
 	UINT16 skin;
-	SINT8 follower;
+	INT32 follower;
 	SINT8 localplayer = -1;
 	UINT16 i;
 
@@ -1908,7 +1908,7 @@ static void Got_NameAndColor(UINT8 **cp, INT32 playernum)
 	p->availabilities = READUINT32(*cp);
 	color = READUINT16(*cp);
 	skin = READUINT16(*cp);
-	follower = READSINT8(*cp);
+	follower = READINT32(*cp);
 	followercolor = READUINT16(*cp);
 
 	// set name