diff --git a/pytools/persistent_dict.py b/pytools/persistent_dict.py
index 3f89887f..2fca2dcf 100644
--- a/pytools/persistent_dict.py
+++ b/pytools/persistent_dict.py
@@ -283,16 +283,7 @@ def update_for_type(key_hash: Hash, key: type) -> None:
 
     @staticmethod
     def update_for_int(key_hash: Hash, key: int) -> None:
-        sz = 8
-        while True:
-            try:
-                # Must match system byte order so that numpy and this
-                # generate the same string of bytes.
-                # https://github.com/inducer/pytools/issues/259
-                key_hash.update(key.to_bytes(sz, byteorder=sys.byteorder, signed=True))
-                return
-            except OverflowError:
-                sz *= 2
+        key_hash.update(str(key).encode("utf-8"))
 
     @classmethod
     def update_for_enum(cls, key_hash: Hash, key: Enum) -> None:
diff --git a/pytools/test/test_persistent_dict.py b/pytools/test/test_persistent_dict.py
index b04d43a0..a7e43e51 100644
--- a/pytools/test/test_persistent_dict.py
+++ b/pytools/test/test_persistent_dict.py
@@ -432,9 +432,13 @@ def test_scalar_hashing() -> None:
     assert keyb(np.int32(1)) == keyb(np.int32(1))
     assert keyb(np.int32(2)) != keyb(np.int32(1))
     assert keyb(np.int64(1)) == keyb(np.int64(1))
-    assert keyb(1) == keyb(np.int64(1))
+    assert keyb(1) != keyb(np.int64(1))
     assert keyb(1) != keyb(np.int32(1))
 
+    assert keyb(1) == keyb("1")
+    assert keyb(1.0) != keyb("1.0")  # '1.0' uses hex representation
+    assert keyb(1+1j) == keyb("(1+1j)")
+
     assert keyb(np.longlong(1)) == keyb(np.longlong(1))
 
     assert keyb(np.float16(1.1)) == keyb(np.float16(1.1))
@@ -566,7 +570,7 @@ class MyDC:
         name: str
         value: int
 
-    assert keyb(MyDC("hi", 1)) == "d1a1079f1c10aa4f"
+    assert keyb(MyDC("hi", 1)) == "72c25f5d0ac2bda7"
 
     assert keyb(MyDC("hi", 1)) == keyb(MyDC("hi", 1))
     assert keyb(MyDC("hi", 1)) != keyb(MyDC("hi", 2))
@@ -590,7 +594,7 @@ class MyAttrs:
         name: str
         value: int
 
-    assert (keyb(MyAttrs("hi", 1)) == "5b6c5da60eb2bd0f")  # type: ignore[call-arg]
+    assert (keyb(MyAttrs("hi", 1)) == "6e8bfc4394f82985")  # type: ignore[call-arg]
 
     assert keyb(MyAttrs("hi", 1)) == keyb(MyAttrs("hi", 1))  # type: ignore[call-arg]
     assert keyb(MyAttrs("hi", 1)) != keyb(MyAttrs("hi", 2))  # type: ignore[call-arg]