diff --git a/include/boost/graph/detail/sparse_ordering.hpp b/include/boost/graph/detail/sparse_ordering.hpp
index b7bf470db..7d99f46fc 100644
--- a/include/boost/graph/detail/sparse_ordering.hpp
+++ b/include/boost/graph/detail/sparse_ordering.hpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ namespace sparse
 
         inline size_type size() const { return base::size(); }
 
-        inline size_type eccentricity() const { return eccen; }
+        inline int eccentricity() const { return eccen; }
         inline value_type spouse() const { return w; }
 
     protected: