diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/tools/GenUtil.java b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/tools/GenUtil.java
index 651c6227e..67f9c3a70 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/presents/tools/GenUtil.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/presents/tools/GenUtil.java
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ public class GenUtil
         } else if (clazz == Double.TYPE) {
             return "(" + name + " as Double).value";
         } else {
-            return name + " as " + simpleASName(clazz);
+            return "(" + name + " as " + simpleASName(clazz) + ")";
         }
     }