diff --git a/doc/ref/api-debug.texi b/doc/ref/api-debug.texi
index 18371f0fc..dd2a3d19d 100644
--- a/doc/ref/api-debug.texi
+++ b/doc/ref/api-debug.texi
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ Guile's debugger can point back to the file and location where the
 expression originated.
 
 The way that source properties are stored means that Guile cannot
-associate source properties with individual numbers, symbols,
-characters, booleans, or keywords.  This can be seen by typing
+associate source properties with individual symbols, keywords,
+characters, booleans, or small integers.  This can be seen by typing
 @code{(xxx)} and @code{xxx} at the Guile prompt (where the variable
 @code{xxx} has not been defined):
 
diff --git a/libguile/read.c b/libguile/read.c
index 4b1975008..bbaf3f63e 100644
--- a/libguile/read.c
+++ b/libguile/read.c
@@ -600,6 +600,10 @@ scm_read_number (scm_t_wchar chr, SCM port)
   int overflow;
   scm_t_port *pt = SCM_PTAB_ENTRY (port);
 
+  /* Need to capture line and column numbers here. */
+  long line = SCM_LINUM (port);
+  int column = SCM_COL (port) - 1;
+
   scm_ungetc (chr, port);
   overflow = read_complete_token (port, buffer, sizeof (buffer),
                                   &overflow_buffer, &bytes_read);
@@ -611,13 +615,15 @@ scm_read_number (scm_t_wchar chr, SCM port)
                             pt->ilseq_handler);
 
   result = scm_string_to_number (str, SCM_UNDEFINED);
-  if (!scm_is_true (result))
+  if (scm_is_false (result))
     {
       /* Return a symbol instead of a number */
       if (SCM_CASE_INSENSITIVE_P)
         str = scm_string_downcase_x (str);
       result = scm_string_to_symbol (str);
     }
+  else if (SCM_NIMP (result))
+    result = maybe_annotate_source (result, port, line, column);
 
   if (overflow)
     free (overflow_buffer);