diff --git a/src/dicom-file.c b/src/dicom-file.c
index 9b32db1..e277f29 100644
--- a/src/dicom-file.c
+++ b/src/dicom-file.c
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ static bool set_pixel_description(DcmError **error,
         !dcm_element_get_value_integer(error, element, 0, &value)) {
         return false;
     }
-    desc->bits_stored = value;
+    desc->bits_stored = (uint16_t) value;
 
     element = dcm_dataset_get(error, metadata, 0x00280103);
     if (element == NULL ||