diff --git a/ewmhints.c b/ewmhints.c
index 5453c4f..edcc108 100644
--- a/ewmhints.c
+++ b/ewmhints.c
@@ -90,11 +90,11 @@ static int
 get_current_desktop(void)
 {
 	unsigned long nitems_return;
-	uint32 *prop_return;
+	unsigned char *prop_return;
 	int current_desktop;
 
 	if (get_property_value("_NET_CURRENT_DESKTOP", 1, &nitems_return,
-			       (unsigned char **) &prop_return) < 0)
+			       &prop_return) < 0)
 		return (-1);
 
 	if (nitems_return != 1)
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ get_current_workarea(uint32 * x, uint32 * y, uint32 * width, uint32 * height)
 {
 	int current_desktop;
 	unsigned long nitems_return;
-	uint32 *prop_return;
+	unsigned char *prop_return;
+	uint32 *return_words;
 	const uint32 net_workarea_x_offset = 0;
 	const uint32 net_workarea_y_offset = 1;
 	const uint32 net_workarea_width_offset = 2;
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ get_current_workarea(uint32 * x, uint32 * y, uint32 * width, uint32 * height)
 	const uint32 max_prop_length = 32 * 4;	/* Max 32 desktops */
 
 	if (get_property_value("_NET_WORKAREA", max_prop_length, &nitems_return,
-			       (unsigned char **) &prop_return) < 0)
+			       &prop_return) < 0)
 		return (-1);
 
 	if (nitems_return % 4)
@@ -140,10 +141,12 @@ get_current_workarea(uint32 * x, uint32 * y, uint32 * width, uint32 * height)
 	if (current_desktop < 0)
 		return -1;
 
-	*x = prop_return[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_x_offset];
-	*y = prop_return[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_y_offset];
-	*width = prop_return[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_width_offset];
-	*height = prop_return[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_height_offset];
+	return_words = (uint32 *)prop_return;
+
+	*x = return_words[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_x_offset];
+	*y = return_words[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_y_offset];
+	*width = return_words[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_width_offset];
+	*height = return_words[current_desktop * 4 + net_workarea_height_offset];
 
 	XFree(prop_return);