diff --git a/base/gmp.jl b/base/gmp.jl
index 971f921a69e8c..81daf52fd14bb 100644
--- a/base/gmp.jl
+++ b/base/gmp.jl
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ function ^(x::BigInt, y::Culong)
     return z
 end
 @generated function ^{p}(x::BigInt, ::Type{Val{p}})
-    p < 0 && return :(inv(x)^p)
+    p < 0 && return :(inv(x)^$(-p))
     return :(x^p)
 end