diff --git a/C/sysbits.c b/C/sysbits.c
index afb48c50e..ec01f2daa 100755
--- a/C/sysbits.c
+++ b/C/sysbits.c
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ p_set_random_state ( USES_REGS1 )
     new = (char *) IntegerOfTerm (t0);
   else
     return FALSE;
-  old = initstate(random(), new, 256);
+  old = setstate( new );
   return Yap_unify(ARG2, MkIntegerTerm((Int)old));
 }
 #endif