diff --git a/basis/classes/struct/bit-accessors/bit-accessors.factor b/basis/classes/struct/bit-accessors/bit-accessors.factor
index 30620b46c1..7a2fdb0cac 100644
--- a/basis/classes/struct/bit-accessors/bit-accessors.factor
+++ b/basis/classes/struct/bit-accessors/bit-accessors.factor
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ IN: classes.struct.bit-accessors
     start-bit end-bit ones-between :> mask
     end-bit start-bit - :> used-bits
 
-    start-bit i end-bit mask step-quot call( a b c d -- quot )
+    i mask start-bit step-quot call( i mask start-bit -- quot )
     used-bits
     i 1 + 8 *
     bits used-bits - ; inline
 
 :: bit-manipulator ( offset bits
-                    step-quot: ( start-bit i end-bit mask -- quot )
+                    step-quot: ( i mask start-bit -- quot )
                     combine-quot: ( prev-quot shift-amount next-quot -- quot )
                     -- quot )
     offset bits step-quot manipulate-bits
@@ -31,21 +31,16 @@ IN: classes.struct.bit-accessors
     ] if ; inline recursive
 
 : bit-reader ( offset bits -- quot: ( alien -- n ) )
-    [| start-bit i end-bit mask |
-        [ i alien-unsigned-1 mask bitand start-bit neg shift ]
-    ]
+    [ neg '[ _ alien-unsigned-1 _ bitand _ shift ] ]
     [ swap '[ _ _ bi _ shift bitor ] ]
     bit-manipulator ;
 
+:: write-bits ( n alien i mask start-bit -- )
+    n start-bit shift mask bitand
+    alien i alien-unsigned-1 mask bitnot bitand
+    bitor alien i set-alien-unsigned-1 ; inline
+
 : bit-writer ( offset bits -- quot: ( n alien -- ) )
-    [| start-bit i end-bit mask |
-        [
-            [
-                [ start-bit shift mask bitand ]
-                [ i alien-unsigned-1 mask bitnot bitand ]
-                bi* bitor
-            ] keep i set-alien-unsigned-1
-        ]
-    ]
+    [ '[ _ _ _ write-bits ] ]
     [ '[ _ [ [ _ neg shift ] dip @ ] 2bi ] ]
     bit-manipulator ;