diff --git a/py/parsenum.c b/py/parsenum.c
index 9f85ae8bd..ae04aa426 100644
--- a/py/parsenum.c
+++ b/py/parsenum.c
@@ -142,9 +142,9 @@ overflow:
     }
 
 value_error:
-    // if lex!=NULL then the parser called us and we need to make a SyntaxError with traceback
+    // if lex!=NULL then the parser called us and we need to make a ValueError with traceback
     if (MICROPY_ERROR_REPORTING == MICROPY_ERROR_REPORTING_TERSE) {
-        mp_obj_t exc = mp_obj_new_exception_msg(&mp_type_SyntaxError,
+        mp_obj_t exc = mp_obj_new_exception_msg(&mp_type_ValueError,
             "invalid syntax for integer");
         raise_exc(exc, lex);
     } else {