diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/gnu.c b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/gnu.c
index 3bb1d68fc3c..ef51f2b5fed 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/gnu.c
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/gnu.c
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ read_dir_file ()
 {
   int dev;
   int ino;
-  unsigned char *strp;
+  char *strp;
   FILE *fp;
-  unsigned char buf[512];
+  char buf[512];
   static char *path = 0;
 
   if (path == 0)
diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/list.c b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/list.c
index 121f250c953..4158a45dac6 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/list.c
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/list.c
@@ -504,7 +504,7 @@ decode_header (header, st, stdp, wantug)
 long
 from_oct (digs, where)
      register int digs;
-     register unsigned char *where;
+     register char *where;
 {
   register long value;
 
diff --git a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/port.c b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/port.c
index b55cf3228bb..10ec32ed728 100644
--- a/gnu/usr.bin/tar/port.c
+++ b/gnu/usr.bin/tar/port.c
@@ -837,7 +837,7 @@ quote_copy_string (string)
   from_here = string;
   while (*from_here)
     {
-      c = *from_here++ & 0xff;
+      c = *from_here++;
       if (c == '\\')
 	{
 	  if (!copying)