diff --git a/core/log_io.c b/core/log_io.c
index 282a2f8498228ad4004be69fb177d58c3f469fc6..ed9b9a2876c4acead16bf074e4129cfe17c17300 100644
--- a/core/log_io.c
+++ b/core/log_io.c
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@
 #include <pickle.h>
 #include <tbuf.h>
 
-const u16 snap_tag = 1;
-const u16 wal_tag = 2;
+const u16 snap_tag = -1;
+const u16 wal_tag = -2;
 const u64 default_cookie = 0;
 const u32 default_version = 11;
 const u32 snap_marker_v04 = -1U;