diff --git a/dwm.c b/dwm.c
index fc4232e..a5e1ce9 100644
--- a/dwm.c
+++ b/dwm.c
@@ -897,10 +897,10 @@ getstate(Window w)
 	Atom real;
 
 	if (XGetWindowProperty(dpy, w, wmatom[WMState], 0L, 2L, False, wmatom[WMState],
-		&real, &format, &n, &extra, (unsigned char **)&p) != Success)
+		&real, &format, &n, &extra, &p) != Success)
 		return -1;
-	if (n != 0)
-		result = *p;
+	if (n != 0 && format == 32)
+		result = *(long *)p;
 	XFree(p);
 	return result;
 }