diff --git a/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll b/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll
index a7712697..7d96bca 100644
--- a/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll
+++ b/compiler/cpp/src/thriftl.ll
@@ -155,7 +155,11 @@
 "include"            { return tok_include;              }
 "void"               { return tok_void;                 }
 "bool"               { return tok_bool;                 }
-"byte"               { return tok_byte;                 }
+"byte"               { 
+  emit_byte_type_warning();
+  return tok_i8;
+}
+"i8"                 { return tok_i8;                   }
 "i16"                { return tok_i16;                  }
 "i32"                { return tok_i32;                  }
 "i64"                { return tok_i64;                  }