diff --git a/quickfixj-base/src/main/java/quickfix/FieldType.java b/quickfixj-base/src/main/java/quickfix/FieldType.java
index 9ecffdc4c6..b1071118c2 100644
--- a/quickfixj-base/src/main/java/quickfix/FieldType.java
+++ b/quickfixj-base/src/main/java/quickfix/FieldType.java
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public enum FieldType {
 
     UNKNOWN,
     STRING,
-    CHAR,
+    CHAR(Character.class),
     PRICE(Double.class),
     INT(Integer.class),
     AMT(Double.class),