diff --git a/src/defs/types.ts b/src/defs/types.ts
index f72e8a3..3e9edb5 100644
--- a/src/defs/types.ts
+++ b/src/defs/types.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ export function paramNumber(value: ParamValue | undefined, fallback: number): nu
 	return typeof value === 'number' ? value : fallback;
 }
 
+/** Spells a refused value for the caller who wrote it; JSON spells NaN and the infinities `null`. */
+export function valueText(value: unknown): string {
+	return typeof value === 'number' ? String(value) : JSON.stringify(value);
+}
+
 function outOfRange(buffer: Buffer, offset: number, needed: number): Error | undefined {
 	if (offset < 0 || needed < 0 || offset + needed > buffer.length) {
 		return new Error(
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@ function outOfRange(buffer: Buffer, offset: number, needed: number): Error | und
 
 function wantInt(value: ParamValue, max: number): Result<{ int: number }> {
 	if (typeof value !== 'number' || !Number.isInteger(value)) {
-		return { err: new Error(`Expected an integer, got ${JSON.stringify(value)}`) };
+		return { err: new Error(`Expected an integer, got ${valueText(value)}`) };
 	}
 
 	if (value < 0 || value > max) {
diff --git a/src/pdu.ts b/src/pdu.ts
index 9e68ec6..48d686a 100644
--- a/src/pdu.ts
+++ b/src/pdu.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import { cmds, commandNameById, respNameFor } from './defs/commands.ts';
 import { hasUdh } from './defs/constants.ts';
 import { decodeMessage, encodeBody } from './message.ts';
 import { errorNameById, errors, isErrorName } from './defs/errors.ts';
-import { paramNumber } from './defs/types.ts';
+import { paramNumber, valueText } from './defs/types.ts';
 import { tagIdOf, tlvDefault, tlvs, tlvsById, writeTlvs } from './defs/tlvs.ts';
 
 /** The highest sequence number this library hands out; SMPP 3.4 4.7.1 reserves 0x7fffffff. */
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ function buildPdu(
 	}
 
 	if (!Number.isInteger(seqNr) || seqNr < 0 || seqNr > maxWireSeqNr) {
-		return { err: new Error(`Invalid seqNr: ${JSON.stringify(seqNr)}`) };
+		return { err: new Error(`Invalid seqNr: ${valueText(seqNr)}`) };
 	}
 
 	const built = buildBody(definition, cmdName, cmdStatus, params, tlvs);