diff --git a/kernel/src/main/scala/cats/kernel/instances/CharInstances.scala b/kernel/src/main/scala/cats/kernel/instances/CharInstances.scala
index 34dacff5b8..7db1f3a331 100644
--- a/kernel/src/main/scala/cats/kernel/instances/CharInstances.scala
+++ b/kernel/src/main/scala/cats/kernel/instances/CharInstances.scala
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package cats.kernel
 package instances
 
 trait CharInstances {
-  implicit val catsKernelStdOrderForChar = new CharOrder
+  implicit val catsKernelStdOrderForChar: CharOrder = new CharOrder
 }
 
 trait CharBounded extends LowerBounded[Char] with UpperBounded[Char] {