diff --git a/json_pointer.c b/json_pointer.c
index 0ac8aaa..6e5609d 100644
--- a/json_pointer.c
+++ b/json_pointer.c
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ int json_pointer_get_internal(struct json_object *obj, const char *path,
 		res->parent = NULL;
 		res->obj = obj;
 		res->key_in_parent = NULL;
-		res->index_in_parent = -1;
+		res->index_in_parent = UINT32_MAX;
 		return 0;
 	}