diff --git a/src/mzscheme/sconfig.h b/src/mzscheme/sconfig.h
index 8593eb73e2..0f1f0a65fd 100644
--- a/src/mzscheme/sconfig.h
+++ b/src/mzscheme/sconfig.h
@@ -98,7 +98,9 @@
 # include "uconfig.h"
 
 # define STACK_GROWS_DOWN
-# define SCHEME_BIG_ENDIAN
+# ifndef i386
+#  define SCHEME_BIG_ENDIAN
+# endif
 
 # define USE_EXPLICT_FP_FORM_CHECK
 # define POW_HANDLES_INF_CORRECTLY