diff -r a206f952668e Python/ceval.c
--- a/Python/ceval.c	Thu Aug 08 18:28:53 2013 +0100
+++ b/Python/ceval.c	Thu Aug 22 23:14:14 2013 +0200
@@ -4561,6 +4561,14 @@
 {
     if (v != NULL) {
         Py_ssize_t x;
+        if (PyLong_Check(v)) {
+            /* super fast path for 'small' integers */
+            Py_ssize_t s = Py_SIZE(v);
+            if (s >= -1 && s <= 1) {
+                *pi = PyLong_AsSsize_t(v);
+                return 1;
+            }
+        }
         if (PyIndex_Check(v)) {
             x = PyNumber_AsSsize_t(v, NULL);
             if (x == -1 && PyErr_Occurred())