diff --git a/contrib/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.h b/contrib/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.h
index 4aa55b4d2d..c0133b7f3f 100644
--- a/contrib/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.h
+++ b/contrib/libvhost-user/libvhost-user.h
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ typedef struct VhostUserVringArea {
 #endif
 
 typedef struct VhostUserMsg {
-    VhostUserRequest request;
+    int request;
 
 #define VHOST_USER_VERSION_MASK     (0x3)
 #define VHOST_USER_REPLY_MASK       (0x1 << 2)