diff --git a/compiler/scanner.pas b/compiler/scanner.pas
index b9b65bb21b..1d298b7d90 100644
--- a/compiler/scanner.pas
+++ b/compiler/scanner.pas
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ interface
           procedure readnumber;
           function  readid:string;
           function  readval:longint;
+          function  readval64:int64;
           function  readcomment(include_special_char: boolean = false):string;
           function  readquotedstring:string;
           function  readstate:char;
@@ -4660,6 +4661,17 @@ type
       end;
 
 
+    function tscannerfile.readval64:int64;
+      var
+        l : int64;
+        w : integer;
+      begin
+        readnumber;
+        val(pattern,l,w);
+        readval64:=l;
+      end;
+
+
     function tscannerfile.readcomment(include_special_char: boolean):string;
       var
         i : longint;