diff --git a/mach/ns/as/mach0.c b/mach/ns/as/mach0.c
index 43a57ef4b..256b2dc83 100644
--- a/mach/ns/as/mach0.c
+++ b/mach/ns/as/mach0.c
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 #define	addr_t		long
 #undef	ALIGNSECT
 #define ALIGNSECT 	2
+#undef BITMAX
+#define BITMAX		16000	/* many optimizations possible */
 
 #undef	VALWIDTH
 #define	VALWIDTH	8