diff --git a/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.c b/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.c
index d40b0e4fdb66..01a5d5eba27d 100644
--- a/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.c
+++ b/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.c
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ subprocess_manager_reap_all (struct subprocess_manager *sm)
 }
 
 int
-subprocess_manager_set (struct subprocess_manager *sm, sm_item_t item, ...)
+subprocess_manager_set (struct subprocess_manager *sm, int item, ...)
 {
     va_list ap;
 
diff --git a/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.h b/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.h
index bb96e058f0bf..7a80beebc938 100644
--- a/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.h
+++ b/src/common/libsubprocess/subprocess.h
@@ -66,8 +66,7 @@ struct subprocess_manager * subprocess_manager_create (void);
 /*
  *  Set value for item [item] in subprocess manager [sm]
  */
-int subprocess_manager_set (struct subprocess_manager *sm,
-	sm_item_t item, ...);
+int subprocess_manager_set (struct subprocess_manager *sm, int item, ...);
 
 /*
  *  Free memory associated with a subprocess manager object: