diff --git a/libavutil/softfloat.h b/libavutil/softfloat.h
index 0f22f057d2..bf511b5cc0 100644
--- a/libavutil/softfloat.h
+++ b/libavutil/softfloat.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ static av_const SoftFloat av_normalize_sf(SoftFloat a){
             a.exp  -= 1;
         }
 #else
-        int s=ONE_BITS + 1 - av_log2(a.mant ^ (a.mant<<1));
+        int s=ONE_BITS - av_log2(FFABS(a.mant));
         a.exp   -= s;
         a.mant <<= s;
 #endif