diff --git a/helpers.go b/helpers.go
index 01e37c2..2d31fb9 100644
--- a/helpers.go
+++ b/helpers.go
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func (t Tree[T]) FprintBST(w io.Writer) error {
 // preorderStringify, traverse the tree, stringify the nodes in preorder
 func (n *node[T]) preorderStringify(w io.Writer, pad string) error {
 	// stringify this node
-	if _, err := fmt.Fprintf(w, "%v [prio:%.4g] [%p|l:%p|r:%p]\n", n.item, n.prio, n, n.left, n.right); err != nil {
+	if _, err := fmt.Fprintf(w, "%v [prio:%.4g] [%p|l:%p|r:%p]\n", n.item, float64(n.prio)/math.MaxUint32, n, n.left, n.right); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
diff --git a/treap.go b/treap.go
index ab7d2a2..e82b667 100644
--- a/treap.go
+++ b/treap.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ type node[T Interface[T]] struct {
 	// base treap fields, in memory efficient order
 	left  *node[T]
 	right *node[T]
-	prio  float64 // random key for binary heap, balances the tree
-	item  T       // generic key/value
+	prio  uint32 // random key for binary heap, balances the tree
+	item  T      // generic key/value
 }
 
 // Tree is the public handle to the hidden implementation.
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func NewTree[T Interface[T]](items ...T) Tree[T] {
 func makeNode[T Interface[T]](item T) *node[T] {
 	n := new(node[T])
 	n.item = item
-	n.prio = rand.Float64()
+	n.prio = rand.Uint32()
 	n.recalc() // initial calculation of finger pointers...
 
 	return n