diff --git a/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c b/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c
index edbffcde3f..ca66001372 100644
--- a/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c
+++ b/src/stdlib/SDL_string.c
@@ -1275,7 +1275,9 @@ int SDL_vsscanf(const char *text, const char *fmt, va_list ap)
                     suppress = SDL_TRUE;
                     break;
                 case 'h':
-                    if (inttype > DO_SHORT) {
+                    if (inttype == DO_INT) {
+                        inttype = DO_SHORT;
+                    } else if (inttype > DO_SHORT) {
                         ++inttype;
                     }
                     break;