diff --git a/util/ass/ass00.c b/util/ass/ass00.c
index 7fdd3b14d..a184d6cfa 100644
--- a/util/ass/ass00.c
+++ b/util/ass/ass00.c
@@ -317,9 +317,9 @@ initproc() {
 	pstate.s_fline= lnp_cast 0 ;
 	pstate.s_fdata= l_data ;
 	pstate.s_locl = (locl_t (*)[])
-		getarea(LOCLABSIZE * sizeof (*(pstate.s_locl))[0]);
+		getarea(LOCLABSIZE * sizeof ((*(pstate.s_locl))[0]));
 	zero(chp_cast pstate.s_locl,
-		LOCLABSIZE * (unsigned) sizeof (*(pstate.s_locl))[0]);
+		LOCLABSIZE * (unsigned) sizeof ((*(pstate.s_locl))[0]));
 	if ( memflg>2 ) memuse() ;
 }