diff --git a/basic/source/sbx/sbxdec.cxx b/basic/source/sbx/sbxdec.cxx
index 4a9cd12a91a5..e0e4afa32d58 100644
--- a/basic/source/sbx/sbxdec.cxx
+++ b/basic/source/sbx/sbxdec.cxx
@@ -239,7 +239,11 @@ bool SbxDecimal::setString( OUString* pOUString )
 
 bool SbxDecimal::getChar( sal_Unicode& rVal )
 {
-    bool bRet = ( VarUI2FromDec( &maDec, &rVal ) == S_OK );
+    USHORT n;
+    bool bRet = ( VarUI2FromDec( &maDec, &n ) == S_OK );
+    if (bRet) {
+        rVal = n;
+    }
     return bRet;
 }