diff --git a/thiersort.h b/thiersort.h
index f2d3cac..f031aae 100644
--- a/thiersort.h
+++ b/thiersort.h
@@ -411,14 +411,16 @@ static inline TSU8 ts_radixi(
 		k.f = (float)(arr[i].u);
 
 		/* 8 bit float */
-		k.u >> 24;
+		/* top bit always zero so ignore it and use 8 useful bits */
+		/* - this is why we shift 23 and not 24 here */
+		k.u >> 23;
 
 		/* We are fine! */
 		return (TSU8)k.u;
 	}
 	if(isfloat) {
 		/* Sign bit can be 1! */
-		k.f = (float) (arr[i].f);
+		k.f = arr[i].f;
 
 		/* 8 bit float */
 		k.u >> 24;