diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/data/SceneUpdate.java b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/data/SceneUpdate.java
index 125b1b0b..d593f6b1 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/data/SceneUpdate.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/whirled/data/SceneUpdate.java
@@ -197,5 +197,5 @@ public class SceneUpdate
     protected transient int _targetVersion;
     
     /** Used when serializing this update for storage in the database. */
-    protected static ThreadLocal _dbSer = new ThreadLocal();
+    protected static ThreadLocal<Boolean> _dbSer = new ThreadLocal<Boolean>();
 }