diff --git a/crypto/ec/ecp_nistp521.c b/crypto/ec/ecp_nistp521.c
index 2f47772a34..e31b85c5f7 100644
--- a/crypto/ec/ecp_nistp521.c
+++ b/crypto/ec/ecp_nistp521.c
@@ -357,10 +357,15 @@ static void felem_diff64(felem out, const felem in)
 static void felem_diff_128_64(largefelem out, const felem in)
 {
     /*
-     * In order to prevent underflow, we add 0 mod p before subtracting.
+     * In order to prevent underflow, we add 64p mod p (which is equivalent
+     * to 0 mod p) before subtracting. p is 2^521 - 1, i.e. in binary a 521
+     * digit number with all bits set to 1. See "The representation of field
+     * elements" comment above for a description of how limbs are used to
+     * represent a number. 64p is represented with 8 limbs containing a number
+     * with 58 bits set and one limb with a number with 57 bits set.
      */
-    static const limb two63m6 = (((limb) 1) << 62) - (((limb) 1) << 5);
-    static const limb two63m5 = (((limb) 1) << 62) - (((limb) 1) << 4);
+    static const limb two63m6 = (((limb) 1) << 63) - (((limb) 1) << 6);
+    static const limb two63m5 = (((limb) 1) << 63) - (((limb) 1) << 5);
 
     out[0] += two63m6 - in[0];
     out[1] += two63m5 - in[1];