diff --git a/pkg/storage/erasure/erasure_encode.go b/pkg/storage/erasure/erasure_encode.go
index a9137cade..4dc9f7c32 100644
--- a/pkg/storage/erasure/erasure_encode.go
+++ b/pkg/storage/erasure/erasure_encode.go
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ import (
 	"unsafe"
 )
 
+type Technique int
+
 const (
-	VANDERMONDE = iota
+	VANDERMONDE Technique = iota
 	CAUCHY
 )
 
@@ -38,9 +40,9 @@ const (
 
 // EncoderParams is a configuration set for building an encoder. It is created using ValidateParams.
 type EncoderParams struct {
-	K,
-	M,
-	Technique int // cauchy or vandermonde matrix (RS)
+	K         uint8
+	M         uint8
+	Technique Technique // cauchy or vandermonde matrix (RS)
 }
 
 // Encoder is an object used to encode and decode data.
@@ -59,7 +61,7 @@ type Encoder struct {
 // k and m represent the matrix size, which corresponds to the protection level
 // technique is the matrix type. Valid inputs are CAUCHY (recommended) or VANDERMONDE.
 //
-func ParseEncoderParams(k, m, technique int) (*EncoderParams, error) {
+func ParseEncoderParams(k, m uint8, technique Technique) (*EncoderParams, error) {
 	if k < 1 {
 		return nil, errors.New("k cannot be zero")
 	}
@@ -117,7 +119,7 @@ func (e *Encoder) Encode(block []byte) ([][]byte, int) {
 	var block_len = len(block)
 
 	chunk_size := int(C.minio_calc_chunk_size(e.k, C.uint32_t(block_len)))
-	chunk_len := chunk_size * e.p.K
+	chunk_len := chunk_size * int(e.p.K)
 	pad_len := chunk_len - block_len
 
 	if pad_len > 0 {
@@ -126,7 +128,7 @@ func (e *Encoder) Encode(block []byte) ([][]byte, int) {
 		block = append(block, s...)
 	}
 
-	coded_len := chunk_size * e.p.M
+	coded_len := chunk_size * int(e.p.M)
 	c := make([]byte, coded_len)
 	block = append(block, c...)
 
@@ -136,12 +138,12 @@ func (e *Encoder) Encode(block []byte) ([][]byte, int) {
 
 	var i int
 	// Add data blocks to chunks
-	for i = 0; i < e.p.K; i++ {
+	for i = 0; i < int(e.p.K); i++ {
 		chunks[i] = block[i*chunk_size : (i+1)*chunk_size]
 		pointers[i] = &chunks[i][0]
 	}
 
-	for i = e.p.K; i < (e.p.K + e.p.M); i++ {
+	for i = int(e.p.K); i < int(e.p.K+e.p.M); i++ {
 		chunks[i] = make([]byte, chunk_size)
 		pointers[i] = &chunks[i][0]
 	}