diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.ml b/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.ml
index e00092855..6288985b0 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.ml
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.ml
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ module Encoding = struct
   let ranged_int minimum maximum =
     let minimum = min minimum maximum
     and maximum = max minimum maximum in
-    if minimum < ~-1_073_741_824 || 1_073_741_823 < maximum then
+    if minimum < -(1 lsl 30) || (1 lsl 30) - 1 < maximum then
       invalid_arg "Data_encoding.ranged_int" ;
     make @@ RangedInt { minimum ; maximum  }
   let ranged_float minimum maximum =
diff --git a/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli b/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli
index 2d9fda6a5..00ba32d90 100644
--- a/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli
+++ b/src/lib_data_encoding/data_encoding.mli
@@ -109,7 +109,12 @@ val int32 : int32 encoding
     (data is encodedas a 64-bit int in binary and a decimal string in JSON). *)
 val int64 : int64 encoding
 
-(** Integer with bounds in a given range. Both bounds are inclusive *)
+(** Integer with bounds in a given range. Both bounds are inclusive.
+
+    Raises [Invalid_argument] if the bounds are beyond the interval
+    [-2^30; 2^30-1]. These bounds are chosen to be compatible with all versions
+    of OCaml.
+*)
 val ranged_int : int -> int -> int encoding
 
 (** Float with bounds in a given range. Both bounds are inclusive *)