diff --git a/Modules/_bisectmodule.c b/Modules/_bisectmodule.c
index 7fecfc6..93d0eed 100644
--- a/Modules/_bisectmodule.c
+++ b/Modules/_bisectmodule.c
@@ -21,7 +21,10 @@
             return -1;
     }
     while (lo < hi) {
-        mid = (lo + hi) / 2;
+        /* The (size_t)cast ensures that the addition and subsequent division
+           are performed as unsigned operations, avoiding difficulties from
+           signed overflow.  (See issue 13496.) */
+        mid = ((size_t)lo + hi) / 2;
         litem = PySequence_GetItem(list, mid);
         if (litem == NULL)
             return -1;
@@ -121,7 +124,10 @@
             return -1;
     }
     while (lo < hi) {
-        mid = (lo + hi) / 2;
+        /* The (size_t)cast ensures that the addition and subsequent division
+           are performed as unsigned operations, avoiding difficulties from
+           signed overflow.  (See issue 13496.) */
+        mid = ((size_t)lo + hi) / 2;
         litem = PySequence_GetItem(list, mid);
         if (litem == NULL)
             return -1;