diff --git a/msg/debug_key_value.msg b/msg/debug_key_value.msg
index 5b8e187802..023531e038 100644
--- a/msg/debug_key_value.msg
+++ b/msg/debug_key_value.msg
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 uint32 timestamp_ms		# in milliseconds since system start
-int8[10] key			# max. 10 characters as key / name
+char[10] key			# max. 10 characters as key / name
 float32 value			# the value to send as debug output
diff --git a/msg/debug_vect.msg b/msg/debug_vect.msg
index c9454216ed..2088a6f619 100644
--- a/msg/debug_vect.msg
+++ b/msg/debug_vect.msg
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 uint64 timestamp_us     # in microseconds since system start
-int8[10] name           # max. 10 characters as key / name
+char[10] name           # max. 10 characters as key / name
 float32 x               # x value
 float32 y               # y value
 float32 z               # z value