diff --git a/asteval/astutils.py b/asteval/astutils.py
index a6defad..3a547c5 100644
--- a/asteval/astutils.py
+++ b/asteval/astutils.py
@@ -226,6 +226,8 @@ def safe_pow(base, exp):
 
 def safe_mult(arg1, arg2):
     """safe version of multiply"""
+    if isinstance(arg1, int) and isinstance(arg2, str):
+        arg1, arg2 = arg2, arg1
     if isinstance(arg1, str) and isinstance(arg2, int) and len(arg1) * arg2 > MAX_STR_LEN:
         raise RuntimeError(f"String length exceeded, max string length is {MAX_STR_LEN}")
     return arg1 * arg2
diff --git a/tests/test_asteval.py b/tests/test_asteval.py
index f00be5b..8438712 100644
--- a/tests/test_asteval.py
+++ b/tests/test_asteval.py
@@ -1224,6 +1224,8 @@ def test_safe_funcs(nested):
     check_error(interp, 'RuntimeError')
     interp("'*'*(2<<17) + '*'")
     check_error(interp, 'RuntimeError')
+    interp("(1+2<<17)*'*'")
+    check_error(interp, 'RuntimeError')
     interp("1.01**10000")
     check_error(interp, None)
     interp("1.01**10001")