diff --git a/src/ai/default/default.cpp b/src/ai/default/default.cpp
--- a/src/ai/default/default.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/default/default.cpp
@@ -3889,10 +3889,10 @@ static void AiHandleTakeover(Company *c)
 		if (IsHumanCompany(_current_company)) return;
 	}
 
-	if (c->bankrupt_asked == 255) return;
+	if (c->bankrupt_asked == MAX_UVALUE(CompanyMask)) return;
 
 	{
-		uint asked = c->bankrupt_asked;
+		CompanyMask asked = c->bankrupt_asked;
 		Company *company, *best_company = NULL;
 		int32 best_val = -1;
 
@@ -3909,7 +3909,7 @@ static void AiHandleTakeover(Company *c)
 
 		// Asked all companies?
 		if (best_val == -1) {
-			c->bankrupt_asked = 255;
+			c->bankrupt_asked = MAX_UVALUE(CompanyMask);
 			return;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/company_base.h b/src/company_base.h
--- a/src/company_base.h
+++ b/src/company_base.h
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ struct Company : PoolItem<Company, Compa
 	byte num_valid_stat_ent;
 
 	byte quarters_of_bankrupcy;
-	byte bankrupt_asked; ///< which companies were asked about buying it?
+	CompanyMask bankrupt_asked; ///< which companies were asked about buying it?
 	int16 bankrupt_timeout;
 	Money bankrupt_value;
 
diff --git a/src/economy.cpp b/src/economy.cpp
--- a/src/economy.cpp
+++ b/src/economy.cpp
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ static void CompanyCheckBankrupt(Company
 				 * is no THE-END, otherwise mark the client as spectator to make sure
 				 * he/she is no long in control of this company */
 				if (!_networking) {
-					c->bankrupt_asked = 0xFF;
+					c->bankrupt_asked = MAX_UVALUE(CompanyMask);
 					c->bankrupt_timeout = 0x456;
 					break;
 				}