diff --git a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/DatabaseTypes.java b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/DatabaseTypes.java
index 3a807bd56..55a557d75 100644
--- a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/DatabaseTypes.java
+++ b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/DatabaseTypes.java
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package org.briarproject.bramble.db;
 class DatabaseTypes {
 
 	private final String hashType, secretType, binaryType;
-    private final String counterType, stringType;
+	private final String counterType, stringType;
 
 	public DatabaseTypes(String hashType, String secretType, String binaryType,
 			String counterType, String stringType) {
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ class DatabaseTypes {
 	/**
 	 * Replaces database type placeholders in a statement with the actual types.
 	 * These placeholders are currently supported:
-	 *	<li> _HASH
-	 *	<li> _SECRET
-	 *	<li> _BINARY
-	 *	<li> _COUNTER
-	 *	<li> _STRING
+	 * <li> _HASH
+	 * <li> _SECRET
+	 * <li> _BINARY
+	 * <li> _COUNTER
+	 * <li> _STRING
 	 */
 	String replaceTypes(String s) {
 		s = s.replaceAll("_HASH", hashType);
diff --git a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/Migration40_41.java b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/Migration40_41.java
index 59bc567cb..efd3644f9 100644
--- a/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/Migration40_41.java
+++ b/bramble-core/src/main/java/org/briarproject/bramble/db/Migration40_41.java
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Migration40_41 implements Migration<Connection> {
 		try {
 			s = txn.createStatement();
 			s.execute("ALTER TABLE contacts"
-					+ dbTypes.replaceTypes(" ADD alias VARCHAR"));
+					+ dbTypes.replaceTypes(" ADD alias _STRING"));
 		} catch (SQLException e) {
 			tryToClose(s);
 			throw new DbException(e);