diff --git a/clients/tools/common.c b/clients/tools/common.c
index bffbf121d0..ec506bd689 100644
--- a/clients/tools/common.c
+++ b/clients/tools/common.c
@@ -149,8 +149,8 @@ static struct tool_ctrls_t {
 };
 
 /* "features" */
-static int	gotintr;
-static int	abcan;
+enum { Intr_None = 0, Intr_Abandon, Intr_Cancel, Intr_Ignore }; 
+static volatile sig_atomic_t	gotintr, abcan;
 
 
 #ifdef LDAP_CONTROL_X_SESSION_TRACKING
@@ -558,19 +558,19 @@ tool_args( int argc, char **argv )
 
 			/* this shouldn't go here, really; but it's a feature... */
 			} else if ( strcasecmp( control, "abandon" ) == 0 ) {
-				abcan = LDAP_REQ_ABANDON;
+				abcan = Intr_Abandon;
 				if ( crit ) {
 					gotintr = abcan;
 				}
 
 			} else if ( strcasecmp( control, "cancel" ) == 0 ) {
-				abcan = LDAP_REQ_EXTENDED;
+				abcan = Intr_Cancel;
 				if ( crit ) {
 					gotintr = abcan;
 				}
 
 			} else if ( strcasecmp( control, "ignore" ) == 0 ) {
-				abcan = -1;
+				abcan = Intr_Ignore;
 				if ( crit ) {
 					gotintr = abcan;
 				}
@@ -1720,19 +1720,19 @@ tool_check_abandon( LDAP *ld, int msgid )
 	int	rc;
 
 	switch ( gotintr ) {
-	case LDAP_REQ_EXTENDED:
+	case Intr_Cancel:
 		rc = ldap_cancel_s( ld, msgid, NULL, NULL );
 		fprintf( stderr, "got interrupt, cancel got %d: %s\n",
 				rc, ldap_err2string( rc ) );
 		return -1;
 
-	case LDAP_REQ_ABANDON:
+	case Intr_Abandon:
 		rc = ldap_abandon_ext( ld, msgid, NULL, NULL );
 		fprintf( stderr, "got interrupt, abandon got %d: %s\n",
 				rc, ldap_err2string( rc ) );
 		return -1;
 
-	case -1:
+	case Intr_Ignore:
 		/* just unbind, ignoring the request */
 		return -1;
 	}