diff --git a/node/pkg/publicrpc/publicrpcserver.go b/node/pkg/publicrpc/publicrpcserver.go
index 9d0bd883..63150ded 100644
--- a/node/pkg/publicrpc/publicrpcserver.go
+++ b/node/pkg/publicrpc/publicrpcserver.go
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ func (s *PublicrpcServer) GetSignedVAA(ctx context.Context, req *publicrpcv1.Get
 	b, err := s.db.GetSignedVAABytes(db.VAAID{
 		EmitterChain:   vaa.ChainID(req.MessageId.EmitterChain.Number()),
 		EmitterAddress: addr,
-		Sequence:       uint64(req.MessageId.Sequence),
+		Sequence:       req.MessageId.Sequence,
 	})
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/proto/publicrpc/v1/publicrpc.proto b/proto/publicrpc/v1/publicrpc.proto
index 5176609e..f729f009 100644
--- a/proto/publicrpc/v1/publicrpc.proto
+++ b/proto/publicrpc/v1/publicrpc.proto
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ message MessageID {
   // Hex-encoded (without leading 0x) emitter address.
   string emitter_address = 2;
   // Sequence number for (emitter_chain, emitter_address).
-  int64 sequence = 3;
+  uint64 sequence = 3;
 }
 
 // PublicRPCService service exposes endpoints to be consumed externally; GUIs, historical record keeping, etc.