diff --git a/py/parse.h b/py/parse.h
index 66efd8a..6e299ef 100644
--- a/py/parse.h
+++ b/py/parse.h
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 // makes sure the top 5 bits of x are all cleared (positive number) or all set (negavite number)
 // these macros can probably go somewhere else because they are used more than just in the parser
 #define MP_UINT_HIGH_5_BITS (~((~((machine_uint_t)0)) >> 5))
-#define MP_FIT_SMALL_INT(x) (((((machine_uint_t)(x)) & MP_UINT_HIGH_5_BITS) == 0) || ((((machine_uint_t)(x)) & MP_UINT_HIGH_5_BITS) == MP_UINT_HIGH_5_BITS))
+// parser's small ints are different from VM small int
+#define MP_PARSE_FITS_SMALL_INT(x) (((((machine_uint_t)(x)) & MP_UINT_HIGH_5_BITS) == 0) || ((((machine_uint_t)(x)) & MP_UINT_HIGH_5_BITS) == MP_UINT_HIGH_5_BITS))
 
 #define MP_PARSE_NODE_NULL      (0)
 #define MP_PARSE_NODE_ID        (0x1)