diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 2edd6d4..89b89ce 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -459,15 +459,17 @@ out:
 
 static i64 nloops(i64 seconds, uchar *b1, uchar *b2)
 {
-	i64 nloops_encoded, nloops;
+	i64 nloops;
 	int nbits;
 
 	nloops = ARBITRARY_AT_EPOCH * pow(MOORE_TIMES_PER_SECOND, seconds);
-	nbits = log (nloops) / M_LN2;
-	*b1 = nbits - 7;
-	*b2 = nloops >> *b1;
-	nloops_encoded = (i64)*b2 << (i64)*b1;
-	return nloops_encoded;
+	if (nloops < ARBITRARY)
+		nloops = ARBITRARY;
+	for (nbits = 0; nloops > 255; nbits ++)
+		nloops = nloops >> 1;
+	*b1 = nbits;
+	*b2 = nloops;
+	return nloops << nbits;
 }
 
 int main(int argc, char *argv[])