The deformation potentials of the E-1(TO) mode in AlN are experimentally determined by combining infrared reflection spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction measurements and using a reported value of the Raman-stress factor for hydrostatically stressed bulk AlN. The deformation potentials are found to strongly depend on published stiffness constants of AlN. A comparison with earlier theoretically calculated values of the deformation potentials is made. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.