diff --git a/dix/getevents.c b/dix/getevents.c
index 2a10038bc..52b74bd30 100644
--- a/dix/getevents.c
+++ b/dix/getevents.c
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ acceleratePointer(DeviceIntPtr pDev, int first_valuator, int num_valuators,
             }
         }
         else {
-            mult = pow((float)(dx * dx + dy * dy),
+		mult = pow((float)((float)dx * (float)dx + (float)dy * (float)dy),
                        ((float)(pDev->ptrfeed->ctrl.num) /
                         (float)(pDev->ptrfeed->ctrl.den) - 1.0) /
                        2.0) / 2.0;