diff --git a/src/ipa/simple/black_level.cpp b/src/ipa/simple/black_level.cpp
index 53b4c0407..cc490eb5c 100644
--- a/src/ipa/simple/black_level.cpp
+++ b/src/ipa/simple/black_level.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ BlackLevel::BlackLevel()
  * \return The black level, in the range from 0 (minimum) to 255 (maximum).
  * If the black level couldn't be determined yet, return 0.
  */
-unsigned int BlackLevel::get() const
+uint8_t BlackLevel::get() const
 {
 	return blackLevelSet_ ? blackLevel_ : 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/ipa/simple/black_level.h b/src/ipa/simple/black_level.h
index 250942172..5e032f9fb 100644
--- a/src/ipa/simple/black_level.h
+++ b/src/ipa/simple/black_level.h
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <array>
+#include <stdint.h>
 
 #include "libcamera/internal/software_isp/swisp_stats.h"
 
@@ -17,11 +18,11 @@ class BlackLevel
 {
 public:
 	BlackLevel();
-	unsigned int get() const;
+	uint8_t get() const;
 	void update(SwIspStats::Histogram &yHistogram);
 
 private:
-	unsigned int blackLevel_;
+	uint8_t blackLevel_;
 	bool blackLevelSet_;
 };