diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
index 340382287..386e88008 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.c
@@ -2123,7 +2123,7 @@ static int32_t C_CheckMalformedBranch(intptr_t lastScriptPtr)
         C_ReportError(-1);
         g_numCompilerWarnings++;
         initprintf("%s:%d: warning: malformed `%s' branch\n",g_szScriptFileName,g_lineNumber,
-                   keyw[*(g_scriptPtr) & 0xFFF]);
+                   keyw[*(g_scriptPtr) & VM_INSTMASK]);
         return 1;
     }
     return 0;
@@ -2140,7 +2140,7 @@ static int32_t C_CheckEmptyBranch(int32_t tw, intptr_t lastScriptPtr)
         return 0;
     }
 
-    if ((*(g_scriptPtr) & 0xFFF) != CON_NULLOP || *(g_scriptPtr)>>12 != IFELSE_MAGIC)
+    if ((*(g_scriptPtr) & VM_INSTMASK) != CON_NULLOP || *(g_scriptPtr)>>12 != IFELSE_MAGIC)
         g_ifElseAborted = 0;
 
     if (EDUKE32_PREDICT_FALSE(g_ifElseAborted))
@@ -2149,7 +2149,7 @@ static int32_t C_CheckEmptyBranch(int32_t tw, intptr_t lastScriptPtr)
         g_numCompilerWarnings++;
         g_scriptPtr = lastScriptPtr + &script[0];
         initprintf("%s:%d: warning: empty `%s' branch\n",g_szScriptFileName,g_lineNumber,
-                   keyw[*(g_scriptPtr) & 0xFFF]);
+                   keyw[*(g_scriptPtr) & VM_INSTMASK]);
         *(g_scriptPtr) = (CON_NULLOP + (IFELSE_MAGIC<<12));
         return 1;
     }
@@ -5106,13 +5106,13 @@ repeatcase:
             g_numBraces--;
 
             if ((*(g_scriptPtr-2)>>12) == (IFELSE_MAGIC) &&
-                ((*(g_scriptPtr-2) & 0xFFF) == CON_LEFTBRACE)) // rewrite "{ }" into "nullop"
+                ((*(g_scriptPtr-2) & VM_INSTMASK) == CON_LEFTBRACE)) // rewrite "{ }" into "nullop"
             {
                 //            initprintf("%s:%d: rewriting empty braces '{ }' as 'nullop' from right\n",g_szScriptFileName,g_lineNumber);
                 *(g_scriptPtr-2) = CON_NULLOP + (IFELSE_MAGIC<<12);
                 g_scriptPtr -= 2;
 
-                if (C_GetKeyword() != CON_ELSE && (*(g_scriptPtr-2)&0xFFF) != CON_ELSE)
+                if (C_GetKeyword() != CON_ELSE && (*(g_scriptPtr-2) & VM_INSTMASK) != CON_ELSE)
                     g_ifElseAborted = 1;
                 else g_ifElseAborted = 0;
 
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.h
index 3f5d94d5e..cd8e584ac 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/gamedef.h
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ extern "C" {
 #define MAXCHEATLEN             20
 #define NUMCHEATCODES           (int32_t)ARRAY_SIZE(CheatStrings)
 
+#define VM_INSTMASK 0xfff
+
 extern intptr_t const * insptr;
 extern void VM_ScriptInfo(intptr_t const *ptr, int32_t range);
 
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
index 679c3af2b..64ad1b9fb 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/gameexec.c
@@ -83,8 +83,6 @@ GAMEEXEC_STATIC void VM_Execute(int32_t loop);
 # include "gamestructures.c"
 #endif
 
-#define VM_INSTMASK 0xfff
-
 #define VM_CONDITIONAL(xxx)                                                                                            \
     {                                                                                                                  \
         if ((xxx) || ((insptr = (intptr_t *)*(insptr + 1)) && (((*insptr) & VM_INSTMASK) == CON_ELSE)))                \