diff --git a/miscutils/bc.c b/miscutils/bc.c
index f0c323d93..547af8eaf 100644
--- a/miscutils/bc.c
+++ b/miscutils/bc.c
@@ -7213,16 +7213,13 @@ static const char bc_lib[] ALIGN1 = {
 "\n"		"return(r/1)"
 "\n"	"}"
 "\n"	"define s(x){"
-"\n"		"auto b,s,r,n,a,q,i"
+"\n"		"auto b,s,r,a,q,i"
+"\n"		"if(x<0)return(-s(-x))"
 "\n"		"b=ibase"
 "\n"		"ibase=A"
 "\n"		"s=scale"
 "\n"		"scale=1.1*s+2"
 "\n"		"a=a(1)"
-"\n"		"if(x<0){"
-"\n"			"n=1"
-"\n"			"x=-x"
-"\n"		"}"
 "\n"		"scale=0"
 "\n"		"q=(x/a+2)/4"
 "\n"		"x-=4*q*a"
@@ -7236,7 +7233,6 @@ static const char bc_lib[] ALIGN1 = {
 "\n"		"}"
 "\n"		"scale=s"
 "\n"		"ibase=b"
-"\n"		"if(n)r=-r"
 "\n"		"return(r/1)"
 "\n"	"}"
 "\n"	"define c(x){"