how to get rid of TASM warning Operand size conflict

When compiling the following assembly source file TASM 4.1 (tasm file.asm):

ideal
p386n
model flat
stack 100h  ; Dummy, to pacify TASM.
codeseg
start: cmp bx, after-start
after:
db 66h, 81h, 0fbh
dw after-start
end start  ; Dummy, to pacify TASM.

, I get the following warning:

Turbo Assembler  Version 4.1  Copyright (c) 1988, 1996 Borland International

Assembling file:   file.asm
*Warning* file.asm(6) Operand size conflict
Error messages:    None
Warning messages:  1
Passes:            1
Remaining memory:  470k

How do I get rid of warning Operand size conflict in line 6 (start: cmp bx, after-start)?

I have a workaround: hardcoding the bytes of the cmp bx, ... instruction with db. Is there anything better?

Based on the comment by Michael Petch, I've just verified that using cmp bx, small after-start does indeed get rid of the warning.

ideal
p386n
model flat
stack 100h  ; Dummy, to pacify TASM.
codeseg
start: cmp bx, small after-start
after:
db 66h, 81h, 0fbh
dw after-start
end start  ; Dummy, to pacify TASM.