diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp
index e96bbc5e0e8..6db82bbd648 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.cpp
@@ -2233,8 +2233,8 @@ oop java_lang_VirtualThread::continuation(oop vthread) {
   return cont;
 }
 
-u2 java_lang_VirtualThread::state(oop vthread) {
-  return vthread->short_field_acquire(_state_offset);
+int java_lang_VirtualThread::state(oop vthread) {
+  return vthread->int_field_acquire(_state_offset);
 }
 
 JavaThreadStatus java_lang_VirtualThread::map_state_to_thread_status(int state) {
diff --git a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.hpp b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.hpp
index 949c506e2a4..435c70a424e 100644
--- a/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.hpp
+++ b/src/hotspot/share/classfile/javaClasses.hpp
@@ -628,7 +628,7 @@ class java_lang_VirtualThread : AllStatic {
   static oop vthread_scope();
   static oop carrier_thread(oop vthread);
   static oop continuation(oop vthread);
-  static u2 state(oop vthread);
+  static int state(oop vthread);
   static JavaThreadStatus map_state_to_thread_status(int state);
   static bool notify_jvmti_events();
   static void set_notify_jvmti_events(bool enable);