diff --git a/src/alloc.c b/src/alloc.c
index 3bc9277a7b..201e3f0b13 100644
--- a/src/alloc.c
+++ b/src/alloc.c
@@ -3336,10 +3336,14 @@ sweep_vectors (void)
     }
 }
 
-static ptrdiff_t const VECTOR_ELTS_MAX
-  = min (((min (PTRDIFF_MAX, SIZE_MAX) - header_size - large_vector_offset)
-	  / word_size),
-	 MOST_POSITIVE_FIXNUM);
+/* Maximum number of elements in a vector.  This is a macro so that it
+   can be used in an integer constant expression.  */
+
+#define VECTOR_ELTS_MAX \
+  ((ptrdiff_t) \
+   min (((min (PTRDIFF_MAX, SIZE_MAX) - header_size - large_vector_offset) \
+	 / word_size), \
+	MOST_POSITIVE_FIXNUM))
 
 /* Value is a pointer to a newly allocated Lisp_Vector structure
    with room for LEN Lisp_Objects.  LEN must be positive and