diff --git a/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_18.c b/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_18.c
index 59bc5c5ed..0422761d6 100644
--- a/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_18.c
+++ b/src/backend/distributed/deparser/ruleutils_18.c
@@ -2400,10 +2400,20 @@ get_select_query_def(Query *query, deparse_context *context)
 	{
 		if (query->limitOption == LIMIT_OPTION_WITH_TIES)
 		{
+			/*
+			 * The limitCount arg is a c_expr, so it needs parens. Simple
+			 * literals and function expressions would not need parens, but
+			 * unfortunately it's hard to tell if the expression will be
+			 * printed as a simple literal like 123 or as a typecast
+			 * expression, like '-123'::int4. The grammar accepts the former
+			 * without quoting, but not the latter.
+			 */
 			// had to add '(' and ')' here because it fails with casting
 			appendContextKeyword(context, " FETCH FIRST (",
 								 -PRETTYINDENT_STD, PRETTYINDENT_STD, 0);
+			appendStringInfoChar(buf, '(');
 			get_rule_expr(query->limitCount, context, false);
+			appendStringInfoChar(buf, ')');
 			appendStringInfoString(buf, ") ROWS WITH TIES");
 		}
 		else