diff --git a/parse_tree.h b/parse_tree.h
index 945d550c4..b83e47abc 100644
--- a/parse_tree.h
+++ b/parse_tree.h
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ public:
 
     /* Children */
     node_offset_t child_start;
-    node_offset_t child_count;
+    uint8_t child_count;
 
     /* Which production was used */
     uint8_t production_idx;