diff --git a/numpy/core/src/umath/umathmodule.c b/numpy/core/src/umath/umathmodule.c
index e4e489c7597d..e06cdedd1d03 100644
--- a/numpy/core/src/umath/umathmodule.c
+++ b/numpy/core/src/umath/umathmodule.c
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ PyMODINIT_FUNC initumath(void)
 
     PyDict_SetItemString(d, "pi", s = PyFloat_FromDouble(NPY_PI));
     Py_DECREF(s);
-    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "e", s = PyFloat_FromDouble(exp(1.0)));
+    PyDict_SetItemString(d, "e", s = PyFloat_FromDouble(NPY_E));
     Py_DECREF(s);
     PyDict_SetItemString(d, "euler_gamma", s = PyFloat_FromDouble(NPY_EULER));
     Py_DECREF(s);