diff --git a/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.cc b/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.cc
index 7e1301c2875..c5b3b7d305d 100644
--- a/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.cc
+++ b/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.cc
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ int RCS_STAT_MSG_format(NMLTYPE t, void *buf, CMS * cms)
 {
     cms->update(((RCS_STAT_MSG *) buf)->command_type);
     cms->update(((RCS_STAT_MSG *) buf)->echo_serial_number);
-    cms->update((int&)(((RCS_STAT_MSG *) buf)->status));
+    cms->update(((RCS_STAT_MSG *) buf)->status_int);
     cms->update(((RCS_STAT_MSG *) buf)->state);
 
     switch (t) {
diff --git a/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.hh b/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.hh
index a432c8d9151..55e48183b00 100644
--- a/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.hh
+++ b/src/libnml/nml/stat_msg.hh
@@ -23,7 +23,22 @@ class RCS_STAT_MSG:public NMLmsg {
     RCS_STAT_MSG(NMLTYPE t, size_t sz);
     NMLTYPE command_type;
     int echo_serial_number;
-    RCS_STATUS status;
+    // The anonymous union is provided to allow for RCS_STAT_MSG_format() in
+    // nml/stat_msg.cc to call cms->update() with an integer reference. Member
+    // 'status' is normally accessed. Casting the 'status' member to int& in
+    // the cms->update() call will give a 'type-punned pointer dereference'
+    // warning. We sidestep this problem with the union where we can address
+    // either field and get the same value.
+    // The union is necessary because the update() call implementation checks
+    // the address of its argument to be in a specific memory region, which
+    // excludes using a temporary. Now, with the union, both members 'status'
+    // and 'status_int' share the same memory location. The 'RCS_STATUS' enum
+    // in rcs/rcs.hh explicitly declares the enum's underlying type as int.
+    // Therefore, both union members are of same underlying type.
+    union {
+        RCS_STATUS status;
+        int status_int;
+    };
     int state;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/libnml/rcs/rcs.hh b/src/libnml/rcs/rcs.hh
index d56361fcd7e..a81600aa392 100644
--- a/src/libnml/rcs/rcs.hh
+++ b/src/libnml/rcs/rcs.hh
@@ -28,7 +28,10 @@ class RCS_TIMER;
 class RCS_CMD_MSG;
 class RCS_STAT_MSG;
 
-enum class RCS_STATUS {               /* Originally from nml_mod.hh */
+// The underlying type specifier of int is meant to stress that it
+// is of paramount importance that the underlying type of the
+// RCS_STATUS enum is int. See nml/stat_msg.hh for more details.
+enum class RCS_STATUS : int {           /* Originally from nml_mod.hh */
     UNINITIALIZED = -1,
     DONE = 1,
     EXEC = 2,