diff --git a/include/common/compat.h b/include/common/compat.h
index 4e86325e6..8d406e5c4 100644
--- a/include/common/compat.h
+++ b/include/common/compat.h
@@ -37,11 +37,9 @@
 #include <common/config.h>
 #include <common/standard.h>
 
-/* INTBITS
- * how many bits are needed to code the size of an int on the target platform.
- * (eg: 32bits -> 5)
- */
-#define	INTBITS	        5
+#ifndef BITS_PER_INT
+#define BITS_PER_INT    (8*sizeof(int))
+#endif
 
 /* this is for libc5 for example */
 #ifndef TCP_NODELAY
diff --git a/src/ev_poll.c b/src/ev_poll.c
index 5f0a2c49b..4a1eb8bf9 100644
--- a/src/ev_poll.c
+++ b/src/ev_poll.c
@@ -92,13 +92,13 @@ REGPRM2 static void _do_poll(struct poller *p, int exp)
 	unsigned rn, wn; /* read new, write new */
 
 	nbfd = 0;
-	for (fds = 0; (fds << INTBITS) < maxfd; fds++) {
+	for (fds = 0; (fds * BITS_PER_INT) < maxfd; fds++) {
 
 		rn = ((int*)fd_evts[DIR_RD])[fds];
 		wn = ((int*)fd_evts[DIR_WR])[fds];
 	  
 		if ((rn|wn)) {
-			for (count = 0, fd = fds << INTBITS; count < (1<<INTBITS) && fd < maxfd; count++, fd++) {
+			for (count = 0, fd = fds * BITS_PER_INT; count < BITS_PER_INT && fd < maxfd; count++, fd++) {
 #define FDSETS_ARE_INT_ALIGNED
 #ifdef FDSETS_ARE_INT_ALIGNED
 
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ REGPRM2 static void _do_poll(struct poller *p, int exp)
 				sr = (rn >> count) & 1;
 				sw = (wn >> count) & 1;
 #else
-				sr = FD_ISSET(fd&((1<<INTBITS)-1), (typeof(fd_set*))&rn);
-				sw = FD_ISSET(fd&((1<<INTBITS)-1), (typeof(fd_set*))&wn);
+				sr = FD_ISSET(fd&(BITS_PER_INT-1), (typeof(fd_set*))&rn);
+				sw = FD_ISSET(fd&(BITS_PER_INT-1), (typeof(fd_set*))&wn);
 #endif
 #else
 				sr = FD_ISSET(fd, fd_evts[DIR_RD]);
diff --git a/src/ev_select.c b/src/ev_select.c
index 95663ffef..90754050d 100644
--- a/src/ev_select.c
+++ b/src/ev_select.c
@@ -135,11 +135,11 @@ REGPRM2 static void _do_poll(struct poller *p, int exp)
 	if (status <= 0)
 		return;
 
-	for (fds = 0; (fds << INTBITS) < maxfd; fds++) {
+	for (fds = 0; (fds * BITS_PER_INT) < maxfd; fds++) {
 		if ((((int *)(tmp_evts[DIR_RD]))[fds] | ((int *)(tmp_evts[DIR_WR]))[fds]) == 0)
 			continue;
 
-		for (count = 1<<INTBITS, fd = fds << INTBITS; count && fd < maxfd; count--, fd++) {
+		for (count = BITS_PER_INT, fd = fds * BITS_PER_INT; count && fd < maxfd; count--, fd++) {
 			/* if we specify read first, the accepts and zero reads will be
 			 * seen first. Moreover, system buffers will be flushed faster.
 			 */
diff --git a/src/haproxy.c b/src/haproxy.c
index 1d3089a58..9ef07f29f 100644
--- a/src/haproxy.c
+++ b/src/haproxy.c
@@ -395,13 +395,6 @@ void init(int argc, char **argv)
 	char *tmp;
 	char *cfg_pidfile = NULL;
 
-	if (1<<INTBITS != sizeof(int)*8) {
-		fprintf(stderr,
-			"Error: wrong architecture. Recompile so that sizeof(int)=%d\n",
-			(int)(sizeof(int)*8));
-		exit(1);
-	}
-
 	/*
 	 * Initialize the previously static variables.
 	 */