diff --git a/pkg/vm/vm.go b/pkg/vm/vm.go
index 6d6e81129..2c131c772 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/vm.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/vm.go
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ const (
 	// on all stacks at once.
 	MaxStackSize = 2 * 1024
 
-	maxSHLArg = 256
-	minSHLArg = -256
+	maxSHLArg = MaxBigIntegerSizeBits
+	minSHLArg = -MaxBigIntegerSizeBits
 )
 
 // VM represents the virtual machine.
diff --git a/pkg/vm/vm_test.go b/pkg/vm/vm_test.go
index e5ffac7c0..5ace7a9e3 100644
--- a/pkg/vm/vm_test.go
+++ b/pkg/vm/vm_test.go
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ func TestSHRSmallValue(t *testing.T) {
 	prog := makeProgram(SHR)
 	vm := load(prog)
 	vm.estack.PushVal(5)
-	vm.estack.PushVal(-257)
+	vm.estack.PushVal(minSHLArg - 1)
 	checkVMFailed(t, vm)
 }
 
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ func TestSHLBigValue(t *testing.T) {
 	prog := makeProgram(SHL)
 	vm := load(prog)
 	vm.estack.PushVal(5)
-	vm.estack.PushVal(257)
+	vm.estack.PushVal(maxSHLArg + 1)
 	checkVMFailed(t, vm)
 }