***********************************************************/
 int32_t vchi_held_msg_release(VCHI_HELD_MSG_T *message)
 {
-       vchiq_release_message((VCHIQ_SERVICE_HANDLE_T)message->service,
-               (VCHIQ_HEADER_T *)message->message);
+       /*
+        * Convert the service field pointer back to an
+        * VCHIQ_SERVICE_HANDLE_T which is an int.
+        * This pointer is opaque to everything except
+        * vchi_msg_hold which simply upcasted the int
+        * to a pointer.
+        */
+
+       vchiq_release_message((VCHIQ_SERVICE_HANDLE_T)(long)message->service,
+                             (VCHIQ_HEADER_T *)message->message);
 
        return 0;
 }
        *data = header->data;
        *msg_size = header->size;
 
+       /*
+        * upcast the VCHIQ_SERVICE_HANDLE_T which is an int
+        * to a pointer and stuff it in the held message.
+        * This pointer is opaque to everything except
+        * vchi_held_msg_release which simply downcasts it back
+        * to an int.
+        */
+
        message_handle->service =
-               (struct opaque_vchi_service_t *)service->handle;
+               (struct opaque_vchi_service_t *)(long)service->handle;
        message_handle->message = header;
 
        return 0;