diff --git a/Include/structmember.h b/Include/structmember.h
index ce5353d5154..5b68213c65e 100644
--- a/Include/structmember.h
+++ b/Include/structmember.h
@@ -68,9 +68,11 @@ typedef struct PyMemberDef {
 #ifdef HAVE_LONG_LONG
 #define T_LONGLONG      17  
 #define T_ULONGLONG      18
-#define T_PYSSIZET       19 /* Py_ssize_t */
 #endif /* HAVE_LONG_LONG */
 
+#define T_PYSSIZET       19 /* Py_ssize_t */
+
+
 /* Flags */
 #define READONLY	1
 #define RO		READONLY		/* Shorthand */
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index a79810def52..123e911d355 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ What's New in Python 2.6 alpha 1?
 Core and builtins
 -----------------
 
+- Py_ssize_t fields work in structmember when HAVE_LONG_LONG is not defined.
+
 - PEP 3123: Provide forward compatibility with Python 3.0, while keeping
   backwards compatibility. Add Py_Refcnt, Py_Type, Py_Size, and
   PyVarObject_HEAD_INIT.