diff --git a/ethutil/big.go b/ethutil/big.go
index 1c25a4784..7af6f7414 100644
--- a/ethutil/big.go
+++ b/ethutil/big.go
@@ -68,8 +68,8 @@ func BigCopy(src *big.Int) *big.Int {
 // Returns the maximum size big integer
 func BigMax(x, y *big.Int) *big.Int {
 	if x.Cmp(y) <= 0 {
-		return x
+		return y
 	}
 
-	return y
+	return x
 }