diff --git a/include/boost/python/list.hpp b/include/boost/python/list.hpp
index 10fd40fd..0d5e2c8f 100644
--- a/include/boost/python/list.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/python/list.hpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class list : public detail::list_base
     }
 
     template <class T>
-    long count(T const& value) const
+    ssize_t count(T const& value) const
     {
         return base::count(object(value));
     }