diff --git a/vm/layouts.hpp b/vm/layouts.hpp
index 1972fe622b..a7c3c51e78 100644
--- a/vm/layouts.hpp
+++ b/vm/layouts.hpp
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ inline static fixnum untag_fixnum(cell tagged)
 
 inline static cell tag_fixnum(fixnum untagged)
 {
-	return RETAG(untagged << TAG_BITS,FIXNUM_TYPE);
+	return (untagged << TAG_BITS) | FIXNUM_TYPE;
 }
 
 #define NO_TYPE_CHECK static const cell type_number = TYPE_COUNT