diff --git a/libguile/goops.c b/libguile/goops.c
index 8f298c539..c09932c08 100644
--- a/libguile/goops.c
+++ b/libguile/goops.c
@@ -2995,7 +2995,7 @@ scm_init_goops_builtins (void)
 
   list_of_no_method = scm_permanent_object (scm_list_1 (sym_no_method));
 
-  hell = scm_calloc (hell_size * sizeof(scm_t_bits));
+  hell = scm_calloc (hell_size * sizeof (*hell));
   hell_mutex = scm_permanent_object (scm_make_mutex ());
 
   create_basic_classes ();