diff --git a/src/c/print.d b/src/c/print.d
index 47720b054..fbae51484 100644
--- a/src/c/print.d
+++ b/src/c/print.d
@@ -1409,7 +1409,7 @@ si_write_ugly_object(cl_object x, cl_object stream)
 
 	case t_random:
 		write_str("#$", stream);
-		si_write_ugly_object(ecl_make_unsigned_integer(x->random.value), stream);
+		write_array(1, x->random.value, stream);
 		break;
 
 #ifndef CLOS
diff --git a/src/c/read.d b/src/c/read.d
index 5c32b7066..6c266085d 100644
--- a/src/c/read.d
+++ b/src/c/read.d
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ sharp_dollar_reader(cl_object in, cl_object c, cl_object d)
 		extra_argument('$', in, d);
 	c = ecl_read_object(in);
 	rs = cl_alloc_object(t_random);
-	rs->random.value = fixnnint(c);
+	rs->random.value = c;
 	@(return rs)
 }