diff --git a/src/parser3.h b/src/parser3.h
index 1c4d324..664d162 100644
--- a/src/parser3.h
+++ b/src/parser3.h
@@ -441,14 +441,15 @@ inline WeaselJsonStatus n_string2(Parser3 *self) {
       }
       break;
     }
-    uint8x16_t x;
+    int8x16_t x;
     memcpy(&x, self->buf, 16);
-    const auto dubquote = vceqq_s8(vdupq_n_u8('"'), x);
-    const auto backslash = vceqq_s8(vdupq_n_u8('\\'), x);
-    const auto control_or_negative = vcgtq_s8(vdupq_n_u8(0x20), x);
+    const auto dubquote = vreinterpretq_s8_u8(vceqq_s8(vdupq_n_s8('"'), x));
+    const auto backslash = vreinterpretq_s8_u8(vceqq_s8(vdupq_n_s8('\\'), x));
+    const auto control_or_negative =
+        vreinterpretq_s8_u8(vcgtq_s8(vdupq_n_s8(0x20), x));
     const auto non_normal = vget_lane_u64(
-        vreinterpret_u64_u16(vshrn_n_u16(
-            vreinterpretq_u16_u8(
+        vreinterpret_u64_u8(vshrn_n_u16(
+            vreinterpretq_u16_s8(
                 vorrq_s8(vorrq_s8(dubquote, backslash), control_or_negative)),
             4)),
         0);