diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/elint.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/elint.el
index 75ca3122773..f0f8add4879 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/elint.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/elint.el
@@ -540,7 +540,8 @@ CODE can be a lambda expression, a macro, or byte-compiled code."
 (defun elint-check-defcustom-form (form env)
   "Lint the defcustom FORM in ENV."
   (if (and (> (length form) 3)
-	   (evenp (length form)))	; even no. of keyword/value args
+	   ;; even no. of keyword/value args ?
+	   (zerop (logand (length form) 1)))
       (elint-env-add-global-var (elint-form (nth 2 form) env)
 				(car (cdr form)))
     (elint-error "Malformed variable declaration: %s" form)