diff --git a/include/mbedtls/bignum.h b/include/mbedtls/bignum.h
index e7f313174..96cc65691 100644
--- a/include/mbedtls/bignum.h
+++ b/include/mbedtls/bignum.h
@@ -214,10 +214,13 @@ typedef struct mbedtls_mpi {
      * Note that this implies that calloc() or `... = {0}` does not create
      * a valid MPI representation. You must call mbedtls_mpi_init().
      */
-    int MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(s);
+    signed short MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(s);
 
     /** Total number of limbs in \c p.  */
-    size_t MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(n);
+    unsigned short MBEDTLS_PRIVATE(n);
+#if MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_LIMBS > 65535
+#error "MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_LIMBS > 65535 is not supported"
+#endif
 
     /** Pointer to limbs.
      *
diff --git a/library/bignum.c b/library/bignum.c
index 36effaf8d..5b9293293 100644
--- a/library/bignum.c
+++ b/library/bignum.c
@@ -114,7 +114,9 @@ int mbedtls_mpi_grow(mbedtls_mpi *X, size_t nblimbs)
             mbedtls_free(X->p);
         }
 
-        X->n = nblimbs;
+        /* nblimbs fits in n because we ensure that MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_LIMBS
+         * fits, and we've checked that nblimbs <= MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_LIMBS. */
+        X->n = (unsigned short) nblimbs;
         X->p = p;
     }
 
@@ -162,7 +164,9 @@ int mbedtls_mpi_shrink(mbedtls_mpi *X, size_t nblimbs)
         mbedtls_free(X->p);
     }
 
-    X->n = i;
+    /* i fits in n because we ensure that MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_LIMBS
+     * fits, and we've checked that i <= nblimbs <= MBEDTLS_MPI_MAX_LIMBS. */
+    X->n = (unsigned short) i;
     X->p = p;
 
     return 0;
@@ -1574,8 +1578,8 @@ static void mpi_montred(mbedtls_mpi *A, const mbedtls_mpi *N,
 {
     mbedtls_mpi_uint z = 1;
     mbedtls_mpi U;
-
-    U.n = U.s = (int) z;
+    U.n = 1;
+    U.s = 1;
     U.p = &z;
 
     mpi_montmul(A, &U, N, mm, T);
diff --git a/library/ecp_curves.c b/library/ecp_curves.c
index a4fa663a5..9acf778ae 100644
--- a/library/ecp_curves.c
+++ b/library/ecp_curves.c
@@ -4512,12 +4512,13 @@ static const mbedtls_ecp_point brainpoolP512r1_T[32] = {
     defined(MBEDTLS_ECP_DP_CURVE448_ENABLED)
 /*
  * Create an MPI from embedded constants
- * (assumes len is an exact multiple of sizeof(mbedtls_mpi_uint))
+ * (assumes len is an exact multiple of sizeof(mbedtls_mpi_uint) and
+ * len < 1048576)
  */
 static inline void ecp_mpi_load(mbedtls_mpi *X, const mbedtls_mpi_uint *p, size_t len)
 {
     X->s = 1;
-    X->n = len / sizeof(mbedtls_mpi_uint);
+    X->n = (unsigned short) (len / sizeof(mbedtls_mpi_uint));
     X->p = (mbedtls_mpi_uint *) p;
 }
 #endif