diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/js.el b/lisp/progmodes/js.el
index 9a077b99a46..161fd5c00b0 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/js.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/js.el
@@ -2220,7 +2220,8 @@ testing for syntax only valid as JSX."
         (cond
          ((= (char-after) ?>)
           ;; Make the closing “>” a close parenthesis.
-          (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'syntax-table '(5))
+          (put-text-property (point) (1+ (point)) 'syntax-table
+                             (eval-when-compile (string-to-syntax ")<")))
           (forward-char)
           (setq unambiguous t)
           (throw 'stop nil))
@@ -2306,7 +2307,8 @@ testing for syntax only valid as JSX."
       ;; Save JSXBoundaryElement’s name’s match data for font-locking.
       (if name-beg (put-text-property name-beg (1+ name-beg) 'js-jsx-tag-name name-match-data))
       ;; Make the opening “<” an open parenthesis.
-      (put-text-property tag-beg (1+ tag-beg) 'syntax-table '(4))
+      (put-text-property tag-beg (1+ tag-beg) 'syntax-table
+                         (eval-when-compile (string-to-syntax "(>")))
       ;; Prevent “out of range” errors when typing at the end of a buffer.
       (setq tag-end (if (eobp) (1- (point)) (point)))
       ;; Mark beginning and end of tag for font-locking.