diff --git a/src/emu/softlist.c b/src/emu/softlist.c
index 91ea5208176..b7b8d4d756e 100644
--- a/src/emu/softlist.c
+++ b/src/emu/softlist.c
@@ -762,8 +762,7 @@ static void start_handler(void *data, const char *tagname, const char **attribut
 						else if ( str_loadflag && !strcmp(str_loadflag, "fill") )
 						{
 							/* Handle 'fill' loadflag */
-							UINT8 val = strtol( str_value, NULL, 0 ) & 0xff;
-							add_rom_entry( swlist, NULL, (const char*)val, offset, length, ROMENTRYTYPE_FILL );
+							add_rom_entry( swlist, NULL, (const char*)(FPTR)(strtol( str_value, NULL, 0 ) & 0xff), offset, length, ROMENTRYTYPE_FILL );
 						}
 						else
 						{