diff --git a/py/binary.c b/py/binary.c
index 46a4eb6..e4dac31 100644
--- a/py/binary.c
+++ b/py/binary.c
@@ -252,7 +252,12 @@
             val = (mp_uint_t)val_in;
             break;
         default:
-            val = mp_obj_get_int(val_in);
+            // we handle large ints here by calling the truncated accessor
+            if (MP_OBJ_IS_TYPE(val_in, &mp_type_int)) {
+                val = mp_obj_int_get_truncated(val_in);
+            } else {
+                val = mp_obj_get_int(val_in);
+            }
     }
 
     mp_binary_set_int(MIN(size, sizeof(val)), struct_type == '>', p, val);