diff --git a/ssl/packet_locl.h b/ssl/packet_locl.h
index 39fac55bb..48a5f3d7d 100644
--- a/ssl/packet_locl.h
+++ b/ssl/packet_locl.h
@@ -111,8 +111,13 @@ __owur static ossl_inline int PACKET_buf_init(PACKET *pkt, unsigned char *buf,
                                               size_t len)
 {
     /* Sanity check for negative values. */
+#ifdef SIZE_MAX
     if (len > (size_t)(SIZE_MAX / 2))
         return 0;
+#else
+    if (len > ((size_t)2 << (sizeof(size_t) * 8 - 1)))
+        return 0;
+#endif
 
     pkt->curr = buf;
     pkt->remaining = len;