diff --git a/Xext/sync.c b/Xext/sync.c
index 3764dbf61..f2bcd2512 100644
--- a/Xext/sync.c
+++ b/Xext/sync.c
@@ -921,7 +921,7 @@ static int FreeCounter(void *, XID);
  * ***** System Counter utilities
  */
 
-pointer
+SyncCounter*
 SyncCreateSystemCounter(const char *name,
                         CARD64 initial,
                         CARD64 resolution,
diff --git a/Xext/syncsrv.h b/Xext/syncsrv.h
index f62b27946..1e59dedfe 100644
--- a/Xext/syncsrv.h
+++ b/Xext/syncsrv.h
@@ -116,12 +116,12 @@ typedef union {
     SyncAwait await;
 } SyncAwaitUnion;
 
-extern pointer SyncCreateSystemCounter(const char *name,
-                                       CARD64 initial_value,
-                                       CARD64 resolution,
-                                       SyncCounterType counterType,
-                                       SyncSystemCounterQueryValue QueryValue,
-                                       SyncSystemCounterBracketValues BracketValues
+extern SyncCounter* SyncCreateSystemCounter(const char *name,
+                                            CARD64 initial_value,
+                                            CARD64 resolution,
+                                            SyncCounterType counterType,
+                                            SyncSystemCounterQueryValue QueryValue,
+                                            SyncSystemCounterBracketValues BracketValues
     );
 
 extern void SyncChangeCounter(SyncCounter *pCounter,