diff --git a/pystencils/backends/cbackend.py b/pystencils/backends/cbackend.py
index 7f8e546c9c1248fdfcb20aeef7373fca6ecec8b8..24861b3985525c6719a8345a48bee20fcbe927e0 100644
--- a/pystencils/backends/cbackend.py
+++ b/pystencils/backends/cbackend.py
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ class CBackend:
 
     def _print_LoopOverCoordinate(self, node):
         counter_symbol = node.loop_counter_name
-        start = f"int {counter_symbol} = {self.sympy_printer.doprint(node.start)}"
+        start = f"int64_t {counter_symbol} = {self.sympy_printer.doprint(node.start)}"
         condition = f"{self.sympy_printer.doprint(node.relational(node.loop_counter_symbol, node.stop))}"
         #condition = f"{counter_symbol} < {self.sympy_printer.doprint(node.stop)}"
         update = f"{counter_symbol} += {self.sympy_printer.doprint(node.step)}"