diff --git a/src/mbgl/programs/attributes.hpp b/src/mbgl/programs/attributes.hpp
index 803a9db50..003a3ae03 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/programs/attributes.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/programs/attributes.hpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(int16_t, 2, label_pos);
 MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(int16_t, 2, anchor_pos);
 MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(uint16_t, 2, texture_pos);
 MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(int16_t,  4, normal_ed);
-MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(uint8_t, 1, fade_opacity);
+MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(float, 1, fade_opacity);
 MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(uint8_t, 2, placed);
 MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(uint16_t, 3, size);
 MBGL_DEFINE_ATTRIBUTE(float, 1, offset);
diff --git a/src/mbgl/programs/symbol_program.hpp b/src/mbgl/programs/symbol_program.hpp
index 158dee301..80e6245a0 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/programs/symbol_program.hpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/programs/symbol_program.hpp
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ public:
 
     static gfx::Vertex<SymbolOpacityAttributes> opacityVertex(bool placed, float opacity) {
         return {
-            {{ static_cast<uint8_t>((static_cast<uint8_t>(opacity * 127) << 1) | static_cast<uint8_t>(placed)) }}
+            {{ static_cast<float>((static_cast<uint8_t>(opacity * 127) << 1) | static_cast<uint8_t>(placed)) }}
         };
     }
 };